Phillies: How does Didi Gregorius fit into the lineup?

What will the Phillies do with newly-acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius?

According to MLB Insider Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Philadelphia Phillies have officially signed free agent shortstop Didi Gregorius to a one-year deal worth $14 million.

This was a move that most of the baseball community saw coming. Philadelphia had a gaping hole at the SS position (with Jean Segura’s fielding declining), and newly hired manager Joe Girardi has always had a very strong relationship with Gregorius.

The addition of the now ex-Yankee is obviously a significant upgrade for a multitude of reasons. He’s a career .264 hitter who regularly plays above-average defense, and the extra lefty “pop” he provides to a lineup is the icing on the cake (three 20+ HR seasons).

With that said, the question now arises: How will Girardi incorporate his new Dutch infielder in Philadelphia?

The acquisition of such a versatile player gives the Phillies a ton of options heading into 2020. Didi has played a multitude of batting order positions in his career. Gregorius’ power and raw ability to hit the ball are without a doubt his best traits, seemingly making him a good fit for a middle of the lineup position.

However, with guys like Harper, Realmuto and Hoskins already manning those spots, Gregorius could see himself playing a different role.

The Phillies could head two routes, first being to slot him at the 2-hole, and hope he can capitalize on McCutchen’s elite OBP. Second, they could run him deeper in the lineup and hope he provides a little extra *juice* to the back end of the team.

Considering Gregorius recorded just a .276 OBP in 2019, he appears to be a better fit as a slugger behind All-MLB First-Team Catcher: JT Realmuto. Although I’m sure Girardi will experiment with his lineup creations, here’s a quick glimpse at a projected 2020 batting order.