Toronto Blue Jays: Ideas and Trade Partners for Randal Grichuk

Philadelphia Phillies

Back in October, Phillies President Dave Dombrowski was open about the shortstop position not guaranteed to be‘ for the 2022 season.  After a rough season on both sides of the ball and the Phillies’ motivation to make a playoff push (hence why they brought in Dombrowski), it is fair for them to keep options open at the important position.

If the Phillies choose to go another route at SS, mixed with Alec Bohm penciled in as the 3B, Gregorius could find himself on the outside looking in.  Yes, Jose Ramirez is on top of the wish list for 3B.  No, this doesn’t mean Didi is better suited than him either.  But, even if Ross Atkins himself was certain a deal will get done for JRam, he’d be foolish to not entertain other ways to upgrade 3B as a position to reallocate the Grichuk contract, if possible.

Entering his age 32 season, Gregorius is coming off a very poor and below-his-standards year with a .639 OPS, and is in his final year under contract for $15.25-mil, plus $1.5 mil in deferred money as per Spotrac.com.

He may not have the type of pop you would hope from a corner position, but he provides an upgrade on defence with capability to play SS and 3B, a left-handed bat to balance out the offence and comes with five years experience playing in the AL East.  While he is coming off a rough 2021 season, from 2018-2020 he had an OPS+ of 112, if he can regain that form he would be an upgrade on offence as well.

I’m not sure how specifics would go here, but one would imagine either some cash or someone the Jays can plug into their pen or minor league pitching depth would also be coming their way.  A deal for Gregorius wouldn’t hurt the payroll by preventing any other moves given only one year left, and this would temporarily solve the need for a 3B, and still enables the Jays to use free agency and prospect capital to address other needs.