MLB: Three new additions who will quietly impact 2020 playoff race
By Nick Stevens
Didi Gregorius has looked really good in summer camp workouts and the eight-year MLB veteran is healthy.
The Philadelphia Phillies might have struck gold with the signing of infielder Didi Gregorius for a one-year/$14 million deal back in December. With a brutal 2020 schedule ahead of them, a healthy, bounce-back season for Gregorius will help put this team right into the thick of what is sure to be a competitive NL East race.
From 2016-2018, Gregorius was an 11.5 WAR player for the New York Yankees, hitting 20+ home runs in each season, significantly increasing his walk rate, and developing into a 122 wRC+ hitter at the plate.
Then came Tommy John surgery.
Gregorius missed half of the 2019 season and was clearly not healthy and fit to form in his 82 games played (.238 average, 84 wRC+).
The 30-year-old shortstop is now healthy and has just 60 games to prove he can rebound. If he can’t, the Phillies are on the hook for just one season and the $14 million price tag isn’t a massive waste of resources. If Gregorius can return to a 4-win player, like he was in his final two seasons in New York, both he and the Phillies win.
Surrounded by Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins, and Andrew McCutchen in the lineup, Gregorius will be well protected, there are very few questions about his glove, and he has had a chance to remove himself from a 3-27 spring training and have a fresh start with a new team and healthy elbow.
While fans focus much of their attention on Realmuto’s contract this season, Gregorius could likely slip right in and be a major contributing factor for the Phillies.