When the New York Yankees let Didi Gregorius walk in free agency this off-season, they took a risk at the shortstop position. The expectation is that Gleyber Torres will take over for Gregorius, who took his talents to the Philadelphia Phillies. Torres has experience at shortstop, playing 77 games at the spot in 2019, tallying a .961 fielding percentage with 11 errors over 659.2 innings.
Overall, Torres was deficient at shortstop, picking up too many errors and landing in the below-average category in fielding percentage at the position among all professional players. His defensive runs saved above average was -1, but it was even worse at second base where he lost -12.
Torres isn’t considered the best defender in the infield by any means, and he could learn a thing or two from DJ LeMahieu, who was stellar across the board for the Yankees last season. Nonetheless, if Torres wants to become a staple on the team, he must increase improve his efficiency fielding.
Alternatively, he’s one of the best offensive players on the Yankees and shouldn’t be looking to get rid of him anytime soon. However, there’s always a possibility that his defense is too problematic, and they must make an undesirable move.
There is a slim chance the Yankees elect to trade him within the next few years, gaining value at other positions and potentially a more stout defensive shortstop in free agency. The trade-off would make logical sense, as they could gain a pitching option and sign a shortstop in free agency like Marcus Semien, who is offensively and defensively stout.
Considering Torres is only 22 years old and hit .278 in 2019 with 38 homers and 90 RBIs, I don’t imagine the Yankees will be letting him go anytime soon. While his future could be grim defensively, which might force the Yankees to utilize him in different ways, I don’t believe trading him would benefit the team more so than keeping him.
Ultimately, Torres doesn’t become a free agent until 2025, as he has four years left of arbitration. The Yankees have all the leverage in the situation and can continue to develop him into a starting shortstop. If baseball is able to return in July, half a season’s sample size should be a good indication of Torres’ quality at shortstop. Let’s hope he comes out of this pandemic, an astronomically better defender.