It is no secret the New York Yankees had conversations about trading starting second baseman Gleyber Torres at the deadline. General manager Brian Cashman was engaged in negotiations with the Miami Marlins in exchange for starting pitcher Pablo López, in which Torres’s name was floated as a prospective part of the deal.
Of course, the deal fell through it at the final moment, keeping Torres in pinstripes for the rest of the 2022 season. Cashman was trying to capitalize on a dominant first half by his team, utilizing the leverage they had gained, specifically for players like Torres, who performed well.
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The Yankees experiences a massive dropoff with Gleyber Torres:
However, immediately after the deadline, Torres began struggling at an inconceivable rate. In July, he hit .292 with a 35% on-base rate, three homers, and 14 RBIs. Fast forward to August, and he hit a measly .180 with a 20.4% on-base rate, two homers, and five RBIs.
He struck out at a 33% clip, his worst number of the season. To start September, Torres is still struggling to a degree, hitting .222 with a 30% on base rate. Over his last three combined games, though, he’s tallied five hits, two homers, and five RBIs, striking out twice.
With Torres finally breaking out of his cold streak, the Yankees can enjoy the fruits of his labor once again. However, there are a few categories that are a bit worrisome regarding the 25-year-old infielder. With runners in scoring position, Torres is hitting .198 with a 25.6% on-base rate this year, some of the worst stats on the team.
Oddly, he is far more effective batting fifth in the lineup than sixth. Over 147 at-bats, he’s hitting .252 with a 31.5% on base rate compared to .167 with a 23.4% on base rate over 102 at-bats.
The question is, do the Yankees look to flip him in the winter months in a prospective deal?
With Oswaldo Cabrera showcasing elite defense across the board, it is possible the Yankees consider him their future second baseman, or they simply have DJ LeMahieu, who is the best defensive 2B on the team. The Yankees have deployed a utility role for DJ this season, but if they wanted to gain max value for Torres, who still has two years left of arbitration until he hits free agency in 2025, they could float him in potential deals once again.
The reality is simple, the fact Cashman included him in talks, to begin with, indicates he is not untouchable. If the Yankees have a deal on the table they are trying to push through, Gleyver could easily be factored in.
Coming off a season where he hit 21 homers and potentially more the rest of the way with 58 RBIs, other squads may see plenty of value left to up-tap. The question that will present itself at the end of the year may suggest the Yankees’ plans — what are their biggest weaknesses? The outfield seems to be littered with holes given Aaron Hicks’ regression and Andrew Bentindieni’s rental contract.
Maybe they try to land an OF on a more reasonable contract by using Torres as bait. Alternatively, the Yankees could see the infield as a bigger weakness and prefer to keep Gleyber in the mix for next season. Time will tell.