Now we know who’ll be filling Derek Jeter’s big shoes in New York, as Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Yankees have acquired Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius in a three-team trade that also involves the Tigers.
According to Rosenthal--following up on an initial report by Sweeny Murti of WFAN radio in New York--the Yankees will send right-hander Shane Green to the Tigers, who will send left-hander Robbie Ray and minor-league infielder Domingo Leyba to the Diamondbacks.
Gregorius was pegged as the Diamondbacks’ long-term shortstop when they acquired him from the Reds in the three-team deal that sent away Trevor Bauer, but that was under the old regime. And he also didn’t play well in 2014, hitting .226 with six homers and a .653 OPS in 80 games at age 24.
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Former general manager Kevin Towers once said of Gregorius: “When I saw him he reminded me of a young Derek Jeter.” And now he’ll get a chance to replace an old Derek Jeter.
Greene debuted this year after six seasons in the minors and pitched well as a 25-year-old rookie, throwing 79 innings with a 3.78 ERA and 81/29 K/BB ratio. He’ll presumably step right into the Tigers’ rotation, giving them a cheap complement to all the expensive veterans.
Detroit acquired Ray from Washington in last offseason’s swap for Doug Fister, but he pitched poorly in the minors this year and got knocked around in a 29-inning debut for the Tigers. He’s still just 23 years old, but his stock has definitely dipped. Leyba is 19 years old and played this past season at low Single-A, hitting .323 in 67 games.
