Report: New York Yankees Trade For Derek Jeter Replacement, Didi Gregorious

The New York Yankees acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius in a three-team deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Detroit Tigers.

The New York Yankees wasted no time in finding a replacement for the newly retired Derek Jeter. Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports reports that the Yankees acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Arizona Diamondbacks thanks to the involvement of the Detroit Tigers in a three-team deal.

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Rosenthal writes that the Yankees sent starting pitcher Shane Green to the Tigers, who sent Robbie Ray and an unnamed minor league pitcher to the Diamondbacks, who in turn sent Gregorius to New York.

While Gregorius’ hitting numbers are pedestrian, with just six home runs and a .226 batting average in 80 games played, it’s his defense that likely drew the Yankees to the shortstop who turns 25 in February.

This move runs concurrent to many Yankees moves in the past in which the team prioritized big bats and marquee names over younger players who might require a bit of development and patience, especially on offense. Now with Gregorius, the team has signaled its prioritization of defense and pitching as they re-tool from the middle of the American League.

Shane Green started 14 games for the Yankees, going 5-4 with a 3.68 ERA while Robbie Ray was a disappointment in Detroit after his arrival from a trade by the Washington Nationals. Ray went 1-4 with a 8.16 ERA.

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