The Yankees were right once about Didi Gregorius. He was the right man at the right time to take over shortstop in the Bronx after Derek Jeter retired in 2014.
Now we will see if they were right again, deciding to let him go as a free agent. Gregorius agreed to a one-year, $14 million deal with the Phillies on Tuesday.
He didn't just impress the fans here and the media here. He impressed the other people in that clubhouse, especially the guys who played with Jeter and knew what the next man in that spot would be dealing with.
"He was taking over for one of the best players to ever play the game, and to do what he's done — it's been incredible to watch," CC Sabathia told me in 2018. "I mean … man, it's insane. Just that alone, he deserves all the credit in the world. And now along with being one of the top five shortstops in the game. It's crazy."
"Top five shortstops" wasn't wrong at the time Sabathia said it. But the unfortunate timing of Gregorius' Tommy John surgery and recovery cost him a chance to really cash in on his free agency. That day could still come if he puts together a healthy 2020 and walks into free agency at a still-not-over-the-hill 31 years old in 2021.
But Didi's Yankees legacy is secure. Even though he was not part ofa World Series championship here, he performed at a high enough level that he became a fan favorite. And that tag won't go away.
"Honestly, anybody that's ever come here — I don't think anybody ever had to do what he did," Sabathia said last year. "We all struggled at the beginning coming here — I did, everybody did. It's just tough to come here and play. And to take over for Derek Jeter like that is insane!
"He just gets so much credit in my eyes for just doing that alone and taking Jete out of the conversation. Because if Didi wasn't who he was, (the media) would still be in here talking to me about leadership, 'what are we missing since Jeter left?' and all that stuff. But we don't because of Didi."
There might one day be a second chapter to Didi's run as a Yankee. We've seen things like that before. But if this is truly how his time in pinstripes ends for good, remember that he came here with a heavy load to carry. And he was stronger than any of us thought he could be.
