New York Yankees Trade For Didi Gregorius

The wait is over; the New York Yankees trade Friday afternoon landed them their shortstop of the future to replace Derek Jeter, as they acquired Didi Gregorius from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team trade. The other team involved in the trade was the Detroit Tigers. The players on the move other than Gregorius are right-handed pitcher Shane Greene, who was traded from the Yankees to the Tigers, while left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray and middle infielder Domingo Leyba were picked up by the Diamondbacks.

The main part of this trade though is Gregorius, as he will have the spotlight on him right from the start as the replacement to future Hall of Famer Jeter. Gregorius is considered a strong fielder, but his performance at the plate leaves a lot to be desired.

More from Empire Writes Back

Last season with the Diamondbacks, Gregorius hit .226 with six homeruns and 27 RBI and .653 OPS in 80 games and 270 at-bats. He was blocked by Chris Owings in Arizona, and did very little to supplant him as the starter with stats like that. Those stats are a drop off though from 2013, when Gregorius hit .252 with a .705 OPS in 103 games and 357 at-bats.

If Gregorius can return to the .250+ hitter he was in 2013 it will be enough for the Yankees to warrant starting him. As a left-handed hitter, he should benefit from the short-porch in right field of Yankee Stadium like so many left-handed hitters before him. Being in a more talented lineup the Yankees have compared to what the Diamondbacks were using could also improve Gregorius numbers.

Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman was reached for a quote after the trade, and his response is in line with what any baseball fan can see; the shortstop market is limited.

"“That’s been difficult. It is not easy, shortstop. It is not a plentiful market. It is very thin. We are not the only club looking for a shortstop, so it makes it even more difficult.”"

That is true, but the Yankees do not have the prospects to land the bigger named shortstops that look available by trade such as Alexei Ramirez, Starlin Castro or Troy Tulowitzki.