Quick Thoughts: Didi Trade

The Trade: As you know, the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Tigers agreed to a three-way trade. The Yankees are sending Shane Greene to Detroit and receiving shortstop Didi Gregorius. The Diamondbacks will receive Robbie Ray from Detroit along with a young SS Domingo Leyba. 

Shane Greene was never expected to do what he did in 15 starts last year at the major league level, but the fact is he did it and he can be counted on to be a solid fifth starter for the Tigers. Greene doesn't have excellent control (3.32 BB/9) but misses bats at a an above average clip (9.9% SwStr% and 23.4% K%). Even with some regression he should be a nice option for the Tigers rotation and a definite upgrade over Robbie Ray for 2015. 

Ray is still 23 with some projection left and Leyba, as a 19 year old middle infielder with solid results thus far in the minors certainly has a lot of potential. Considering the Dbacks decided on Chris Owings as the every day shortstop, this isn't a bad move for the Dbacks, trading an area with depth. 

However, the best player in this deal is likely Didi Gregorius and this should be considered a win for the Yankees. Although Gregorius has been very mediocre at the plate (84 wRC+) he's considered a plus defender and has succeeded in that area so far at the major league level. Also, while a 84 wRC+ is below average across all hitters, it's average for the position and at 25 years by Opening Day, Gregorius still has some upside with the bat. Steamer projects Gregorius at 1.2 WAR in 392 PAs, so across a full season the Yankees are looking at a two win player with some additional upside.

We all like to anoint winners and losers immediately with trades but this one looks pretty even all around. The Tigers upgrade their rotation on a team trying to win a title, the Yankees acquired their current and future SS at a reasonable cost and the Dbacks traded a position of strength for some guys with potential. Not bad.

This trade only happened in the morning but it hasn't taken long for people to talk about the struggles of someone replacing Derek Jeter. While it's an interesting thought, I don't actually think Didi is going to struggle with being the guy after Jeter. This simply wasn't a large enough move to merit high expectations. If the Yankees sold the farm for Tulowitzki, then I could see where his play would be under immense scrutiny. Gregorius is simply a nice, young player at a premier position and given the baseline (or lackthereof) that Jeter set last season, Didi shouldn't have any issues clearing it. But maybe I'm just the idiot that expects Yankee fans to be reasonable.