Phillies: 5 shortstop candidates for 2021

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Didi Gregorius, Philadelphia Phillies(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The Phillies have a big decision to make at shortstop next offseason

The Phillies addressed two major holes in their roster this past offseason: starting pitching and shortstop. Despite being less than a year removed from trading for Jean Segura, Joe Girardi and the Phillies front office felt there were upgrades to be had.

With Segura starting to show signs of regression as a defender, the Phillies decided it was worthwhile to invest in the infield yet again.

Likely a selling point to Girardi when they hired him, Matt Klentak went out and snagged longtime Yankee Didi Gregorius on a one-year deal. While this move no doubt sures up the shortstop position for the expected shortened 2020 season, it leaves question marks moving forward. With no guarantee Gregorius will return to Philly for 2021, that hole in the infield remains a glaring issue.

Didi Gregorius (re-signs)

By far the easiest option of the bunch, the Phillies could simply opt to retain Gregorius for another year. At just 30 years old, it’s completely reasonable to assume he still has some serious gas left in the tank. A technical defender who has rarely relied on his pure athleticism in the past, Gregorius could surely provide another year of solid shortstop play as the Phillies continue to plan out the long term future of the position.

Gregorius has obviously yet to play an actual game in a Phillies uniform, but based on everything he’s said since signing, he appears to be quite happy as a member of the organization. Obviously having a strong connection with Girardi helps, and his $14 million dollar salary is a sweetener, but he also gets the opportunity to be an everyday starter on a fringe playoff team as he chases one final payday.

With the 2020 MLB season set to be shortened, the market for Didi may be small this upcoming winter. Given that he’s healthy and the Phillies are willing to pay $10+ million for him again, he could very easily decide to hang around for another season.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 25: A scenic view of the playing field from the upper level at sunset during a game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Yankees won 4-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Bryson Stott

When you shell out $20+ million contracts to players in back to back offseasons, you have to have a plan set in place to surround said players with cheaper, complimentary contracts. The easiest way to do that? Draft well, and utilize your prospects while they’re still on their rookie deals.

The Phillies have no doubt struggled to draft over the past few years. After completely gutting their farm system during the early 2010s (as they aimed to win multiple championships), the Phillies were put in a position where they had to consistently crush each draft, year after year. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. Highly rated prospects came and went, with only a few truly sticking around to be labeled “successes” (Aaron Nola).

However, it looks like the Phillies have in fact struck gold with their recent first-round pick. Selected 14th overall in the 2019 draft, Bryson Stott has done nothing but impress since entering the Phillies’ minor league system. Across 44 games in Williamsport, Stott hit .274 with an .816 OPS.

Stott is currently only 22 years old, and a call-up to the majors after just one year in the minor leagues is incredibly unlikely, especially considering how long the Phillies like to keep their prospects down there. However, it’s not impossible. This past season alone has proven younger athletes can make a serious impact on the major league level (see guys like Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna Jr. for example).

If Gregorious chooses to leave in free agency, and the Phillies feel confident in their first-round selection, don’t be surprised if Stott is trotting out there in 2021 as a day one starter.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 28: Marcus Semien #10 of the Oakland Athletics plays shortstop during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 28, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Athletics defeated the Mariners 1-0. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Sign a Free Agent

The Phillies haven’t been afraid to spend the big bucks in recent years, and that likely won’t change heading into the 2021 offseason.

If Gregorius indeed walks in free agency, and the Phillies don’t feel comfortable handing over the keys to a 22 year old prospect, it’s likely the front office will simply dip their fingers back into a pretty loaded free agency class. Shortstops Marcus Semien and Andrelton Simmons are both set to hit the open market, while versatile second baseman DJ LeMahieu is expected to join them. While Semien may be looking to cash out for the first time in his career, it’s possible that Simmons and LeMahieu could be looking to take a shorter deal similar to that of Gregorius.

The Phillies have a ton of salary coming off the books after the 2020 season, and handing out another pricey one-year contract should be of no problem to them. Simmons and LeMahieu both provide solid production on offense, defense, and in the clubhouse via some old school veteran leadership.

Even if the Phillies are out of the running when it comes to some of the flashier names in free agency, there’s plenty of other middle-of-the-pack type veterans who would be more than happy to take a one/two year deal to act as a bridge to Bryson Stott.

Guys like Freddy Galvis, Jose Iglesias, Kolton Wong, and Jonathan Schoop all highlight a list of veteran infielders who would definitely pick up the phone if Joe Girardi and the Phillies came calling. Whether it’s a big splash or quiet veteran addition, solving the shortstop question via free agency is a very low-risk plan to pursue.

Francisco Lindor

After spending pretty much the entirety of this past offseason being linked to Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado, the Phillies may very well just turn their attention to a different superstar currently sitting on the trade block.

Rumors began swirling around Francisco Lindor’s future as a Cleveland Indian almost immediately following the conclusion of the 2019 season. Set to be free agent in 2022, Lindor and the Indians have yet to settle on a long term extension, despite the star shortstop clearly wanting one. Initially being linked primarily to the LA Dodgers, it became clear both Lindor and the Cleveland front office were at least open to the idea of a trade. Seeing as the Dodgers pushed all their chips in on Mookie Betts, it’s unlikely they’ll be in the running for Lindor as well, freeing him up for a team like the Phillies to jump in on.

The Phillies haven’t been shy with their intentions as an organization recently. After signing Bryce Harper to a record-breaking contract, the front office made it clear they planned on surrounding him with “blue chip” level talent. JT Realmuto was the first one, and now they’ll likely be looking to add another. Considering how hot the Bryant/Arenado rumors were this past winter, it’s no secret the Phillies have at least explored a blockbuster move like this in the past.

Lindor is arguably the best shortstop in all of baseball currently, and is coming off a monster few seasons in Cleveland. He’s been selected to four consecutive All-Star games, has won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards, and is set to turn just 27 years old later this fall.

Adding Lindor to a Harper-Realmuto offensive core would be game changing. It would immediately give the Phillies one of the top offensive lineups in the league while having the ability to keep all three together for years to come. If John Middleton is willing to spend some of that “stupid money” again, and Matt Klentak is okay seeing Alec Bohm walk out the door, adding Lindor in 2021 would be a dream come true at the shortstop position.

Jean Segura

Despite obviously being the least exciting option, simply moving Segura back to his natural position in a year is an option the Phillies shouldn’t rule out. Despite the veteran showing signs of athletic regression in 2019, he’s played the position for eight straight years and is currently on the hook for a $14.85 million dollar salary in 2021.

Segura didn’t inherently struggle last year, but he wasn’t his usual All-Star self when it came to his debut season with the Phillies. He recorded a career-high 20 errors, and his overall fielding percentage was down 2.6% from a few seasons prior. He made a few mental mistakes on the diamond, but his biggest struggles arose when it came to “high athleticism” type plays. He just didn’t have the same quickness that a Javier Baez or a Francisco Lindor have.