MLB insider Jeff Passan has outrightly rejected any possibility of a swap deal between the Yankees and the Red Sox involving infielder Gleyber Torres. He even went on to claim such reports as nonsense.
Despite the Red Sox’s willingness to trade outfielder Alex Verdugo, a left-handed batter that aligns with the Yankees’ outfield needs, the prospect of trading Gleyber Torres from the New York’ side doesn’t appear as logical, making a player exchange between the two less plausible.
“Alex Verdugo and Gleyber Torres: Do not believe the rumored Verdugo-for-Gleyber Torres nonsense. Even if the fits match, the likelihood of the Red Sox and Yankees pulling off a deal of substance is minuscule. That said, the industry believes Boston wants to move Verdugo, while a Torres trade doesn’t align with New York’s desire to improve its offense, he’s a year from free agency and slated to make upward of $15 million in arbitration when the Yankees have Oswald Peraza champing at the bit for at-bats.”
The Yankees’ impossible trade
The Yankees have demonstrated limited interest in trading Torres, only entertaining discussions with other teams. Previous attempts by the Marlins to acquire the second baseman during the past two trade deadlines were unsuccessful due to the Yankees’ high asking price, as reported by NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller in July 2023. New York GM Brian Cashman reportedly backed out of a deal for starting pitcher Pablo Lopez in 2022.
The Red Sox’s new chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, has expressed the team’s search for a right-handed hitting middle infielder this offseason. Breslow also indicated openness to offers for Verdugo, who has one year left in arbitration before entering free agency, making them a potential match in theory.
According to the insider, The notion of a trade involving Alex Verdugo and Gleyber Torres, as rumored, is not considered credible. Despite potential positional fits, the chances of a substantial deal between the Red Sox and Yankees are extremely low. While there is industry speculation that Boston is interested in moving Verdugo, trading Torres does not align with the Yankees’ goal of enhancing their offense. Furthermore, Torres is approaching free agency, and with a projected arbitration salary exceeding $15 million, the Yankees have Oswald Peraza ready for more playing opportunities.
Recently, speculation regarding a potential Torres-for-Verdugo trade gained traction following a report by WEEI’s Rob Bradford. According to Bradford, there was purported mutual interest from both the Yankees and Red Sox, leading to expectations of further discussions between the two teams.
In the previous season, Torres recorded a .273 batting average with an .800 OPS, 25 home runs, and 68 RBI, while Verdugo posted a .264 batting average with a .745 OPS, 13 home runs, and 54 RBI.
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