Good players not only lust for the day they become free agents. They dream of being the best free agent at their position and having their pick of teams flush with millions burning holes in the corporate vault.
Half of that equation is in play for Didi Gregorius, the slick-fielding, productive shortstop the Yankees declined to offer the $17.8 million qualifying offer on Monday.
Gregorius is by far the class of the free-agent shortstop crop, despite hitting .238 with 16 homers, 61 RBIs and a .718 OPS in 82 games in a 2019 season that didn’t begin until early June because of offseason Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow.