Gregorius to PHI, Cozart and Gausman to SF

Didi Gregorius signed by PHI (1 year/$14 million dollars)

Just like last offseason, the Phillies aren’t playing around. They’ve already addressed their pitching issues with a big five-year deal for Zack Wheeler and now they’ve got the last piece for their offense in place with the signing of Didi Gregorius. After César Hernández was non-tendered, we started to see rumors ramp up that they were interested in Gregorius. The one-year, $14 million dollar deal will install Gregorius at shortstop while moving Jean Segura to spot that Hernández’s departure opened up at 2B.

Gregorius played just half the season last year and didn’t fare too well, posting an 84 wRC+ in 82 games. He had a .238/.276/.441 line and 16 HR in 344 PA. This despite nearly a 2 mph jump in exit velocity and otherwise relatively stable batted ball profile. The biggest change was a complete collapse at home, a place where he had previously thrived, especially in 2018. His Yankee Stadium meltdown saw him go from a .944 OPS and 19 HR in 304 PA to just a .570 OPS and 6 HR in 155 PA. Moving to another hitter-friendly home park will certain help Gregorius and he’ll once again be a part of a solid lineup.

Without a team and coming off a down year, Gregorius has been the 24th shortstop off the board around pick 225 in early NFBC drafts. Part of that is the immense depth at the position, too. Now that he has a new home, the price could jump a bit, but I can’t really see his ADP jumping out of the 200s. I think his Steamer projection is about right: .265/.313/.451, 23 HR, 81 RBI, 70 R, and 6 SB in 595 PA.

Zack Cozart and Will Wilson traded to SF; cash considerations to LAA

This is a clear salary dump by the Angels as they are in on several of the remaining big free agents, including Gerrit Cole. This move could bring Anthony Rendon into play if they miss out on Cole because it not only gives them some more money freed up, but also opens up third base. Cozart signed a three-year deal with the Angels on the heels of incredible 2017 effort that saw him post a 139 wRC+ in 507 PA, but he only gave them just a 54 wRC+ in 360 PA over the last two seasons.

A bum left shoulder ate up major parts of both seasons, resulting in 60-day IL stints each time and he added in a strained neck IL stint for good measure. Now entering his age-34 season, health will obviously be the driving factor in whether or not he can become anything again. There isn’t a clear path to playing time with Mauricio Dubón at 2B, Brandon Crawford at SS, and Evan Longoria at 3B, but if Cozart is in fact healthy, they’ll find time for him, likely at 2B. He has been a 47th round pick in the NFBC 50-round Draft & Holds which is about right.

Will Wilson does indeed play baseball.

Kevin Gausman signed by SF (1-year, $9 million dollars)

The Giants scooped the 29-year old righty for $9 million dollars with another potential $1 million in incentives which would essentially give him the same amount he was set to make before he was non-tendered by Cincinnati ($10.6 mil). I’m unsure whether they will put him back in the rotation or use him as a multi-inning reliever, but he was waaay better in the latter role last year. As a starter, he posted a 6.37 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with a 17% K-BB in 82 IP while in relief he had a 3.10 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with a 27% K-BB in 20.3 IP.

I’ve been a Gausman fan in the past and so I’m actually a bit interested if they do move him back into a starter’s role, at least for his home games. He could be fantasy viable as a multi-inning reliever, too, especially if he keeps missing bats at a 33% clip in that role. Stay tuned on Gausman. He’ll be cheap regardless of role.