Yankees Rumors: Amid Nolan Arenado's New Contract, Didi Gregorius Talking Extension Beyond 2019

If the New York Yankees were actually hoping to sign Nolan Arenado next year, they received some bad news Tuesday afternoon. The Colorado Rockies have reportedly agreed to sign their third baseman to an eight-year contract worth $260 million.

This comes a few weeks after it was reported that the Yankees didn’t make a competitive offer for Manny Machado in part because they preferred to sign Arenado after the 2019 MLB season. Now that Colorado won’t let their slugger reach free agency, New York will miss out on both All-Star infielders.

Perhaps the Yankees will feel a greater sense of urgency to make sure their core of young, talented infielders remains intact for the foreseeable future. That could mean giving Didi Gregorius a contract extension of his own before he gets a chance to hit free agency in the fall.

New York isn’t necessarily negotiating with Gregorius because they missed out on Machado and Arenado, but keeping the veteran certainly seems more important than it might have a few months ago. The Yankees are reportedly having discussions with Gregorius and reliever Dellin Betances, both of whom are free-agents-to-be.

Gregorius, 29, will make $8.5 million in the final year of his current deal. The shortstop will likely miss at least the first half of the season as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery, though he’s expected to return at some point after the All-Star break.

The Yankees have already inked a couple of their players to extensions. Pitcher Luis Severino signed a four-year, $40 million contract, buying out his first year of free agency. With free agency looming for Aaron Hicks in November, the center fielder agreed to a seven-year, $70 million deal with New York.

Gregorius isn’t on the same level as Machado or Arenado. He’s a few years older than both players and has never made an All-Star team. The shortstop has dealt with injuries in each of the last few seasons and he’ll miss more than 25 games for the third straight year.

But Gregorius has proven to be one of the most valuable Yankees in recent years, and signing him to a long-term contract would be a win for New York.

The 2018 season was the best of Gregorius’ career. He hit .268/.335/.494 with a career-high 27 home runs in 134 games. Gregorius has hit at least 20 home runs in three straight seasons and averaged a 3.3 WAR in his four seasons in New York.

Gregorius has exceeded all expectations since being given the unenviable task of having to replace Derek Jeter. While there are always questions regarding how incoming free agents might handle the bright lights of New York City, the shortstop has thrived under the pressure that comes with playing for the Yankees.

Gregorius has gotten plenty of big hits as a Yankee. When the team nearly made the 2017 World Series, he hit .250/.345/.500 with three home runs in 13 playoff games.

Upon Gregorius’ return, he’ll share the left side of the infield with Miguel Andujar. The third baseman was the runner-up for the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year award. Andujar was arguably the Yankees’ most consistent hitter, posting a .297/.328/.527 slash line with 27 home runs in 149 games.

Gleyber Torres is two years younger than Andujar and might have a higher ceiling. The second baseman hit .270/.340/.480 with 24 home runs in 123 games as a rookie.

Andujar and Torres are under the Yankees’ control for several more years. Signing Gregorius to a new deal could give New York one of the best infields in baseball for the foreseeable future.