Are the Phillies All in on Didi Gregorius?

Are the Phillies all in on Didi Gregorius? I would have to say yes. After the Phillies and J.T Realmuto finally come to an agreement there are still some holes that need to be filled. One of the big questions is “Who will be at shortstop”? The big names in the shortstop position are starting to dwindle.

The Phillies are still about $30 million under the luxury cap. The problem is while the organization was focused on JT some names came off the board. Former Phillie Freddy Galvis signed with the Orioles. Marcus Semien signed with the Blue Jays. Andrelton Simmons signed with the Twins.

Didi Gregorius

Didi played in all 60 games last season. Gregorius went out to prove it as he did. He earned every penny of the $14 million hitting .284 with 10 homers and 40 RBI. This was the most runs batted in of any Phillie in 2020. The problem is Gregorius will be 31 before the season starts. The Phillies may be rightfully wary of doling out another multi-year deal to a player on the wrong side of 30.

The organization is very high on the former first round pick Bryson Stott who is turning heads in the minors. This could make signing a veteran to a multiyear lucrative deal less than ideal.

The Twins agree to a deal with SS Andrelton Simmons for one year and $10.5 million, per source. Simmons had been a Phillies target, but now Didi Gregorius could be back in play there. First on Simmons: @JeffPassan
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 27, 2021

Who is On Second?

Another option is moving Jean Segura to shortstop and filling in second with a cheaper free-agent acquisition. This will allow Kingery to be the utility man and concentrate on the center field position and filling in for inevitable injuries.

The name that most people would be looking at is Kolten Wong. He is a 30 years old back-to-back National league gold glover. He would garnering around $10-13 million a year. This would be affordable but maybe not in the cards. In 2020, Wong put up a .265 AVG, .350 OBP, .326 SLG, and a .675 OPS.

Second base options include Jonathan Schoop and Dee Gordon. The two shouldn’t cost more than $2-6 million a year. The problem after these options are less than starting caliber.

Are the Phillies all in on Didi Gregorius? Only time will tell but as we inch closer to February and the season. For more Phillies coverage click here.

Al Zaffiri

Al is one of the two co-creators of Edge of Philly Sports. Al started radio and podcasting in 2012 and covering sports in 2015. A lifelong Philly sports fan since watching the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers with his grandfathers at age 7. Al always looks at the other side of the hot topics and gives his different outlook on those topics. Web and Graphic Design.