Didi Gregorius, Starlin Castro

Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, left, and second baseman Starlin Castro. (File photos)

It won't take much for Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro to form a strong double-play combo in 2015.

"Good chemistry," Gregorius told the YES Network's Jack Curry Monday night. "That's all we need."

The Yankees hope Gregorius is right. They haven't had a longterm middle-infield pair since 2013 -- Robinson Cano's last year in the Bronx with Derek Jeter.

In 2014, while a retiring Jeter often struggled at the plate and in the field, the Yankees couldn't find him a stable second baseman. The Brian Roberts experiment was ditched after the first half of the year and Stephen Drew, while a better defender, didn't hit a lick.

In 2015, Gregorius excelled as a first-time full-time player, even finishing as a Gold Glove finalist. But often he'd look at second base and see a new face -- Drew, Brendan Ryan, Jose Pirela, Rob Refsnyder or Dustin Ackley.

But the Yankees have big plans for Castro, a three-time All-Star and converted shortstop who, like Gregorius, will turn 26 this season.

They took on the remaining four years and $37 million on his contract and sent a solid swingman -- the right-handed Adam Warren -- to the Cubs during the Winter Meetings.

"I know Spanish, so we're good," Gregorius said. "We can talk. Just trying to get to know each other even better in spring training. It's going to be a real exciting year for both of us. So I look forward to that."

Gregorius said he remembers seeing Castro early in his career.

"It's awesome," Gregorius said. "I've seen him play when I was in the minors and seeing him debut in Cincinnati. I was over there in the Reds' organization. It was just awesome to see him playing and now we're together. It's the same thing. We've got to keep going. Make the team stronger and keep doing our best."

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.