The Phillies made a somewhat unexpected move on Thursday, releasing veteran shortstop Didi Gregorius. With second baseman Jean Segura coming off the Injured List today a roster spot needed to be cleared, and Gregorius was left as the odd man out. It’s not a complete shock given his awful play this season, but it’s always newsworthy when a high priced veteran gets released.
Gregorius has really struggled in his third year in Phillies pinstripes, posting a brutal .210/.263/.304 line across 232 plate appearances. While his defense has been markedly better this year, that’s not enough to justify his anemic bat. With the recent acquisition of Edmundo Sosa from the Cardinals, the Phils found themselves with a glut of middle infielders.
While some fans may be disappointed to see a likable veteran like Gregorius go, the sting is taken out of it with the return of Segura. The 32-year-old had been terrific for the first two months of the season, putting up a .275/.324/.407 line, before a broken finger put him on the shelf. He’ll now slide back into the starting lineup, while rookie Bryson Stott assumes the full time shortstop role.
A handful of other roster moves took place on Thursday, with the team clearing space for their newest trade acquisitions. Noah Syndergaard and Brandon Marsh were added to the active roster, while Kyle Gibson was reinstated from the bereavement list. The Phillies optioned pitchers Mark Appel and Bailey Falter, and outfielder Simón Muzziotti to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in corresponding moves.