Didi could stay in Bx. via qualifying offer
There are times when each side benefits from a deal.
That doesn’t mean Didi Gregorius remains with the Yankees, but there is one avenue by which the free-agent shortstop, who will turn 30 in February, stays a Yankee: The qualifying offer.
Teams can offer their free agents the $17.8 million qualifying offer before 5 p.m. Monday. The player then has 10 days to reject or accept the offer. If the player accepts, he is considered signed. If the player rejects, the offer the team he signs with will have to surrender draft-pick compensation. Free agents can start talking to other teams midnight Monday into Tuesday.
Had Gregorius not missed the first nine weeks of this past season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm and had the same year he had in 2018, the qualifying offer wouldn’t be in play outside of the Yankees getting draft-pick compensation if Gregorius went elsewhere.
Yet, Gregorius batted .238, hit 16 homers, drove in 61 runs and posted a .718 OPS in 82 regular-season games. In the postseason Gregorius hit .273 with a homer, six RBIs with a .708 OPS in nine games.
Gregorius made $11.75 million this past season so the $17.8 million signifies a significant raise. Making the qualifying offer protects the Yankees in case Gregorius leaves.
The shortstop could take the qualifying offer, re-establish himself among the elite shortstops in the game and become a free agent following next season when he couldn’t receive the QO for a second time.
The Yankees have Gleyber Torres to play short but despite it having been his regular position as a minor leaguer many believe he is a better second baseman thanks to su
perior footwork. And don’t underestimate Gregorius’ popularity in a clubhouse that won’t have CC Sabathia in it.
“I don’t think he took a step back,’’ an NL talent evaluator said of Gregorius’ 2019 season. “You have to take into account how much time he missed.’’
Gregorius isn’t the Yankees’ only free agent. However, they won’t make qualifying offers to Brett Gardner, Dellin Betances or Austin Romine.
All of Gardner’s 12 bigleague seasons have been with the Yankees and he hasn’t seriously tested free agency previously. He played 98 games in center field this past season, batted .251 with career highs in homers (28), RBIs (74) and OPS (.829) in 141 games when he was paid $9.5 million.
Since Aaron Hicks is expected to be out at least until June thanks to Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm, Jacoby Ellsbury hasn’t played since 2017, Mike Tauchman’s value is as a utility outfielder capable of playing all three positions well, Clint Frazier is viewed as a corner outfielder and injuries have slowed top center-field prospect Estevan Florial, the Yankees’ need the 36-year-old Gardner to play center field. If Betances had a 2019 season in line with his previous five, the four-time All-Star would be getting several long-term offers likely in the area of $12 million-$15 million per.
However, a spring training right shoulder impingement put the native New Yorker on the injured list to start the season. While rehabbing in Tampa, Betances suffered a lat injury. When he returned Sept. 15 in Toronto, he fanned the two batters he faced and suffered a left Achilles’ tendon injury that put him out of the postseason. The injury didn’t require surgery, but it’s tough to determine what the market will be for a pitcher who will be 32 in March and pitched two-thirds of an inning this past season due to those injuries. He made $7.1 million last season. The Phillies figure to be interested. Romine, who turns 31 this month, might be the best backup catcher in baseball due to his strong defense and ability to call a game. Considering Gary Sanchez’s injury history (he has been on the IL five times during the past three seasons), Romine is a valuable backup. However, he might want to see if he can find a team that would give him a chance to be a No. 1 or at least play more. Romine’s 80 games in 2017 were his most in the majors. He hit a career high .281 in 72 games this past season when he hit .281 and was paid $1.8 million. george.king@nypost.com