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Phillies Jean Segura, DiDi Gregorius rumors won’t go away

By George Stockburger

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 19: Bench coach Rob Thomson #59, manager Joe Girardi #28, Aaron Hicks #31 and Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees celebrate after Hicks scored on a RBI single by Ronald Torreyes during the sixth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 19, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Matt Brown/Angels Baseball LP/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 19: Bench coach Rob Thomson #59, manager Joe Girardi #28, Aaron Hicks #31 and Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees celebrate after Hicks scored on a RBI single by Ronald Torreyes during the sixth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 19, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Matt Brown/Angels Baseball LP/Getty Images) /
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Didi Gregorius keeps coming up in Phillies trade rumors this offseason.

The Phillies filled a lot of holes last offseason, adding four new players to their 2019 opening day lineup. One of the holes they filled was at shortstop, acquiring Jean Segura and his long-term contract from Seattle for prospect J.P. Crawford.

Since that trade Segura made 20 errors, dealt with injuries, and had his hustle come into question early on. He’s made at least 17 errors at short in his last three seasons between Philadelphia and Seattle, and now his future is in question this offseason.

Amid trade rumors circling Segura, multiple reports have connected the Phillies to manager Joe Girardi’s former shortstop in New York, Didi Gregorius.

The former Yankee played three seasons for Girardi and is a free agent after missing half the season coming off Tommy John surgery. He hit just .238 with 16 home runs coming off the injury after three consecutive seasons of hitting at least .268 with 20 home runs in New York.

Some believe Gregorius’s power will play well in Philadelphia after he pummeled the short porch in Yankee Stadium. Gregorius has never hit a home run past straight away center field, pulling it into the right field porch 110 times in his career.

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The right field pole is 16 feet further in Citizens Bank Park and the wall is much higher than the 8ft wall in New York, but it could still play well for Gregorius.

Philadelphia’s infield is in flux depending on the future of Cesar Hernandez at second base. Philadelphia is expected to trade Hernandez this offseason, potentially allowing former top second base prospect Scott Kingery to finally find a home there or potentially move Segura across the bag.

Kingery could also play third if Philadelphia can’t add Mike Moustakas, Josh Donaldson, or Anthony Rendon.

Segura has played just 13 percent of his career innings at second base, all of them in 2016 for Arizona. Some have said he’s better suited to play second, but is he better than Kingery there?

Plus, what’s Segura’s trade value with more than $45 million over three years (including a buyout for a fourth year) remaining on his contract as well as with questions regarding both his hustle and the fact he’s been on four teams in the last five years?

Would the Phillies be better suited with Segura playing a healthy season under an experienced manager or cutting ties and adding a starting pitcher through a trade?

These are the questions general manager Matt Klentak must wrestle with this offseason, and it sounds like he’s at least listening for Segura trades.

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