The New York Yankees can justifiably trade infielder Gleyber Torres this off-season if they see Anthony Volpe as a legitimate contributor during the 2023 campaign. The expectation is that Oswald Peraza and Volpe will compete for the starting shortstop job next spring, but Volpe will likely need a few weeks if not months at the Triple-A level having just been elevated this past season.
With Double-A Somerset, Volpe hit .251 with a 34.8% on-base rate, including 18 homers and 60 RBIs. He also contributed 44 stolen bases. He started to heat up toward the end of his tenure before being promoted to Scranton, where he hit .236 with a 31.3% on-base rate over 22 games. The sample size was small, though, indicating he needs a bit more time to adjust to the increased talent levels. However, his transition to the MLB will be even more strenuous, even if he dominates during spring training ball.
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With Volpe’s near future undetermined, the Yankees may want to keep Gleyber Torres around, despite the fact that general manager Brian Cashman is receiving calls regarding the former All-Star.
The Yankees are getting calls on second baseman Gleyber Torres, but it’s doubtful they’ll move him, at least not until (Anthony) Volpe is ready, with the plan to eventually shift (Oswald) Peraza to second base.
Via The Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
The Yankees don’t need to trade Gleyber Torres but his value hasn’t been this high in years:
The Seattle Mariners have already made contact with the Bombers regarding a prospective trade, as well as the Miami Marlins at the most recent trade deadline in early August. Miami wanted Gleyber and Jasson Dominguez in exchange for starting pitcher, Pablo López, but Cashman turned it down and elected to keep Dominguez.
At 25 years old, Torres still has plenty of value and two years left of control until he hits free agency in 2025. This past season, he hit .257 with a 31% on-base rate, 24 homers, and 76 RBIs. He also recorded a .985 fielding percentage with nine defensive runs saved above average across 1082.2 innings.
If utility-man DJ LeMahieu is still battling a toe injury he sustained before the season concluded, keeping Torres around for a few months might be worthwhile. They could still move him at the deadline next year for bullpen support and prospects, given he would have one year left of control, but his value has never been higher, which suggests the Cashman should listen to potential offers.