Even after acquiring middle infielder Luis Urias last month, the Brewers are showing interest in the top free-agent shortstop on the market, Didi Gregorius, Robert Murray was among those to report. The Reds and Phillies also appear to be in the hunt for the soon-to-be 30-year-old.
Last season was rough for Gregorius, who missed the first few months on account of Tommy John surgery in his right elbow and then struggled to replicate his past success when he returned. Nevertheless, this looks as if it’s setting up as a lucrative offseason for the longtime Yankee, a candidate for a high-paying multiyear contract. Assuming the Indians don’t trade Francisco Lindor, the Dodgers don’t deal Corey Seager, the Cubs don’t move Javier Baez and the Rockies don’t part with Trevor Story, it seems likely Gregorius will wind up as the best shortstop to change hands this winter.
Should the Brewers land Gregorius, it’s unclear how their infield would set up. As of now, the 22-year-old Urias – a former standout prospect with the Padres – is the in-house favorite to play short. But that could change if the Brewers sign Gregorius. The team looks set at second base, where Keston Hiura thrived as a rookie in 2019, but questions abound everywhere else in its infield. With the exception of Hiura, Milwaukee has either let go of or lost most of its prominent infielders from last season (shortstop Orlando Arcia’s still in the mix, but he has been unproductive). Picking up Gregorius could alleviate the club’s issues to some extent.
ForestCobraAL
Please some team sign this guy.
The Phillies already wasted $118 million on a broken down Zack Wheeler.
VonPurpleHayes
Lol. Get over it.
StandUpGuy
I keep hearing that even though DiDi had a down year due to injuries and he finished with a sub-.250 batting average that he still finished top 4 in ALMVP voting last season. Am I missing something or are my dates wrong? If he was really a top 4 ALMVP at 29 years of age on an injured down year shouldn’t he be much higher on the top free agent list? Or am I wrong about where he placed (top 4 on an injury shortened sub .250 batting campaign is a little hard to believe) or wrong about which year he placed high on MVP ballots? I am a National League fan and don’t know much about DiDi. This guy is an enigma to me! Can someone please help me out?!
Marner#16
Standup,
NL is weaker , got lucky to win this year . I’m a Sox fan and you have to be impressed with Didi. Gotta respect him and own your eyes to the AL. Don’t get me wrong mad respect for Cubs , Brewers, Cards . Borden your horizons best two players in the game in AL Betts/Trout!
SaberSmuckers
Didi never finished 4th. 20th in back to back years (‘17 and ‘18). Great pick-up for any team that needs a SS. Not sure how many HR’s he’ll hit away from Yankee Stadium. But I guess Miller Park has been good to Yelich so who knows.
I have no idea what Warner is talking about.
Money Mike Kohl
Not true. He wasn’t even in the top 25 in AL MVP voting
SalaryCapMyth
Nobody cares what you think either, Purp.
Jason Hall
What would it cost the Reds do you guys think to try and trade for Corey Seager?
DockEllisDee
Excessive depletion of their farm and probably a ML rotation arm or someone like Lorenzen or something like a Hunter Greene.. could see Phil Ervin or Winker involved too, hell maybe Aquino. Would be a huge package and I’m still probably selling it short. I don’t see it happening. Same as with Story.
SalaryCapMyth
I think Dock is blowing it out of proportion a little but Seager would be plenty expensive. I just think at this moment it would be a difficult trade for him because you are taking away a potential contributor, perhaps even an elite one. If the Dodgers acquire Lindor then Seager might be more attainable if Seager isnt used in that trade.
If that were the case, I could see the Dodgers being willing to trade him. I don’t think they would be as interested in the Reds top prospect, Greene because he is sometime away from the big leagues. I think the Dodgers would want players that are close to MLB ready or already contributing, making it difficult for the Reds who are also trying to compete.
I think a package looks like India, Santillan and Lorenzen. Turner is getting old so India might be able to take over 3B, especially if they dont land Donaldson or Rendon. Santillan provides some upside and isnt quite a top 100 MLB prospect and Lorenzen gives the Dodgers bullpen help which they really need.
Seager is plenty risky though. He only has 2 years of control. Not a one year rental but not easy to build much around him either, barring an extension. And then there is the injury risk that he represents.
SuperflyBri
Hope my Brewers sign him, Urias can play third, Didi at second, Hiura at first, that’s a lot stronger than the Shaw, Arcia, Moose combo they started with last season. They can flip Arcia as well, great defensively, just not a hitter.
thomps07
Arcia isn’t starting going forward.
BrewCrew82
They need to focus on pitching, not a 3rd shortstop.
brewcrew08
They need to focus on everything outside of OF. Stearns needs at least 2 more bats and 2-3 arms.
enricopallazzo
As a Brewers fan, it was clear they were frustrated with Arcia last year, not surprised they make a move at SS and deal him off.
BennyTheBoss
This would be a smart signing for the Brewers, that is assuming he can be had for the reported $15 per year and can get back to the 4-5 win leave he showed in 2017 and 2018.
An infield of Urias, Hiura, Gregorius, and whoever pays first (Thames? Smoak?) has a lot of risk but at the same time potential to be one of the best.
And Narvaez brings a lot of offense to the catcher position, even though his defense won’t match Grandal’s.
People writing the Brewers off but they are much in the race for the Central division or a wild card.
Matt Galvin
Orlando A. at 3B,Gregoruis at SS,Urias at 2B and Hiura at 1B.
BennyTheBoss
Arica should not be on a major league roster. Man cannot hit for his life
RollieCG4
Arcia coming off the bench for late inning defense and start every 4 days to give the infield rest. I believe it’s a waste to stick him at 3rd, can’t afford to waste an offensive power position with him
Luckybrew
Hiura is a poor fielding player about the only place to play him is at first no arm and terrible fielder would be a good DH but in the wrong league.
daily phil
I’ll take him on the Phillies but also have him going to Brewers in my prediction contest sooooo if the Phillies don’t land him I approve of this
stubby66
I will gladly take Gregorious . But I think we could be just as strong offensively if we signed Matt Duffy for third. Urias at short, Huira for second and maybe trade for Domonic Smith or if say San Diego was willing to eat at least half of Myers contract so one of them can man first with Braun. I think that would still give us enough money to sign a top end pitcher.
jvent
You can have D.Smith straight up for Hader lol
Socrates Curveball
Acting like Orlando Arcia is penciled into the starting lineup is ludicrous. You did Didi then a -st basemen. Shift Urias to 3rd and Hiura stays at 2nd.
RollieCG4
Hiura to 3rd or is his throwing that terrible?
thomps07
He has a weak arm.
BrewCrew82
His arm is awful and his fielding is pretty bad as it is…. no arm strength for 3rd.
Luckybrew
Yes most of his errors were throwing errors very poor arm.But his bat is very good. You have to find someplace to hide him.
driftcat28 2
Love Didi and is NY loses him I’m glad he’d have a great opportunity in MIL. Stand up guy for sure would fit great with that team
HartnellDown
Phillies. 3 years 45 million
RollieCG4
He signed?
gocards2849
No
Tanner Larson
Please sign in the NL so the Twins don’t have to face him
throwinched10
I guess Hiura would line up at 3b?
ib6ub9
Cant throw that far
brewcrewenthusiast
absolutely not
seemcasper1028
Hell no! If Huira played 1B, he would have a hard time flipping the ball to the pitcher on a ground ball to first. Not sure he could throw it that far. 3B? Not a chance!
southbeachbully
I think the future of Didi with the Yanks is dependent on whether or bot they sign Cole. The three most expensive SP, imo, are Stras, Wheeler and Cole. MadBum MIGHT see $100 mil + but if they should fall short of bringing in Cole or MadBum then maybe he comes back to NY along with Bets.
The fact the Yanks didn’t hit Didi with a QO makes me think they have an agreement along the lines of “go out and see what your best offer is and circle back to us before you sign”. Otherwise, I think Didi would’ve rejected the QO anyway knowing he would get a multi-year deal from someone. I like the guy and it seems he loved playing in NY. He’s a good character guy and has been the anchor of our IF since he arrived.
afsooner02
Didis #s in that hitters ballpark? 35hrs if he plays the entire season.
Go get him Sterns.
top jimmy
Cashman is an idiot for not making him a qualifying offer. Yanks defense is going from bad to worse with Gleyber replacing DiDi. Infield should have been Torres-3B, DiDi-SS, LeMahieu-2B, Andujar or Voit at 1B. Trade Urshela. His stock will never be higher.
TheMick7
Actually the defensive metrics went up with Didi off the field…… and he probably won’t pull 18M/year signing a contract. Yanks trying to reduce overhead to offer Cole more $. Business decision, I don’t think it was stupid.
drewm
This would be a terrible buy
Oxford Karma
I’ve rooted for the brewers in the postseason but n the nl. It’s be nice to have a former Yankee there
beerncheese
I think the brewers plan to move Hiura to left field and Braun to platoon at first. This could mean signing Didi for SS and putting Urias at 2B. Then sign or trade for 3B and pitching.
Watch for Stearns to sign a FA for either SS or 3B and trade for the other.
I do believe he will trade Hader. I can see the trade partner being Mets or LAD as the rumor mill predicts, but a lot of teams would be interested in Hader to complete their roster.
If Hader traded I could see Will Harris come to MKE.
The money is there for all of this.