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Rarely does a qualifying offer seem like a good idea for both player and team.

In the case of Didi Gregorius and the New York Yankees this offseason, it's easy to see the benefit for both sides.

After posting a 104 OPS+ while averaging 26 doubles, 20 home runs, 75 RBI and 3.3 WAR in his first four seasons with the Yankees, Gregorius played just 82 games in 2019.

When he was healthy enough to take the field, he looked like a shell of his former self, posting an 87 OPS+ and 0.6 WAR in his return from Tommy John surgery.

With this year's qualifying offer set at $17.8 million, it's hard to picture Gregorius topping that AAV on what has been a volatile free-agent market in recent years, especially for middle infielders. Zack Cozart had to switch positions to secure a $12.7 million AAV in 2018, while Jose Iglesias was forced to settle for a minor league deal last winter. Coming back on the equivalent of a one-year, prove-it deal would seem to be in Gregorius' best interest.

From the Yankees' perspective, it's a short-term gamble that has a great chance of making the team better in 2020, without bogging down the payroll for years to come.

When he's healthy and producing up to his full potential, Gregorius is well worth the salary equivalent of the 125 highest-paid players in baseball, which is what the qualifying offer represents.

Bringing him back to man the shortstop position would place less pressure on Miguel Andujar and the revolving door of first basemen to hold down a spot on the infield.

Instead, the Yankees could go with DJ LeMahieu at first base, Gleyber Torres at second base, Gregorius at shortstop and Gio Urshela at third base.

Since its inception in 2012, just six players have accepted a qualifying offer—Brett Anderson (2015), Jeremy Hellickson (2016), Colby Rasmus (2015), Hyun-Jin Ryu (2018), Neil Walker (2016) and Matt Wieters (2015).

Don't be surprised if Gregorius becomes the seventh this winter.