Heading into the 2023 MLB offseason, the New York Yankees are facing the stark reality of missing the postseason for the second consecutive year. Despite having a roster brimming with talent and soaring expectations, the Yankees fell short of expectations on the field. Amidst the temptation to maintain the status quo with their existing core in 2024, there is a pivotal move that warrants the Yankees’ serious contemplation: the trade of their middle infielder, Gleyber Torres.
Should the Yankees trade Gleyber Torres?
Gleyber Torres has been a beloved figure among Yankees fans ever since his explosive debut in 2018 when he swatted 24 home runs as a rookie, swiftly establishing himself as a cornerstone of the team’s future. However, Torres has not evolved into the superstar many envisioned. While still a reliable player, his production has stagnated since those promising initial seasons.
In the 2023 season, Torres maintained solid performance, concluding the year with 25 home runs and a batting average of .278, accompanied by an .800 OPS. The 26-year-old proved to be a shining light amidst an otherwise gloomy season for the Yankees, making him a valuable trade asset.
The Yankees faced the harsh reality that injuries can devastate a roster, and their squad lacked the depth necessary to endure the grueling 162-game season. Trading Torres presents an opportunity to address several pressing needs simultaneously, such as acquiring starting pitching, bolstering the bullpen, and securing a competent shortstop to fill Torres’s void.
The primary challenge in trading Torres lies in finding a team willing to part with the assets that New York would demand in exchange. Nonetheless, this is not an insurmountable hurdle. Torres remains a youthful talent at just 26 years old, with two years of team control remaining. Any team acquiring him would be securing a promising young player with substantial upside potential. Although Torres’s stock may have dipped in recent seasons, there are undoubtedly teams that still regard him as a prospective star.
Trading Torres would unquestionably be a bold move for the Yankees, but one that deserves careful consideration. By capitalizing on his value, the team could address multiple areas of deficiency, potentially laying the foundation for long-term success. Such a decision may not win unanimous approval from the fan base, but it’s the kind of difficult choice that often distinguishes contenders from also-rans.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Cubs have prospects to trade. Gleyber at third
Gleyber Torres was the best player on the Yankees when the star Aaron Judge was out for two months. Unless you get a star LH hitter and pitcher who is an ACE LIKE A LUIS CASTILLO , then I would consider a trade but not for just a fill IN UNTIL THE MARTIAN IS READY. TORRES HAD SOME BASE RUNNING MISTAKES AND SOME ERRORS OF JUDGMENT INTHE FIELD, BUT OVERALL HE IS YOUNG AND CAN BE A BIG PIECE OF THE SOLUTION TO THE YANKEE PROBLEMS AND GET BACK TO THE POST SEASON.
Yes,trading Torres is a tough call.As you said, other than Judge he was the most productive offensive player on team.Maybe he hasn’t yet blossomed into the star they thought he would but his numbers have been pretty consistently decent.If they do trade him they really need to get at least a couple of pieces that can really help them.No injury prone guys please.I know they can’t help it but the Yankees need good players who are durable.
I think you mean a fill on at 2nd. Torres hasn’t played SS for 2 yrs. Plus rookie Anthony Volpe handled SS this past year. Editing?
Terrible idea trading Torres. He can hit, the area where the Yankees struggled all year.
Yes they should, He goes into “Bernie” world too often. He is fortunate you cannot assume a double play, otherwise he would have several more errors when his relay is bad. He can only play 2b, we need more versatility. He did have a decent year, best time to trade him. The core kids exposed the fact they cannot hit, they are nolonger tradable.
Yes they should, He goes into “Bernie” world too often. He is fortunate you cannot assume a double play, otherwise he would have several more errors when his relay is bad. He can only play 2b, we need more versatility. He did have a decent year, best time to trade him. The core kids exposed the fact they cannot hit, they are nolonger tradable.
Taking issue with your opening assertion that Yanks team roster is “brimming with talent”. Judge, Cole of course, maybe Torres and Volpe if he has the discipline to learn how to hit. Beyond that nada mucho. Eat Stanton’s contract and get a real two way player who can make less easy and predictable outs in the same number if at bats. The team of the past two years just gives away at bats before they come to the plate. They’re a selfish bunch that rarely is concerned about moving the runner or keeping pressure on the other side’s pitching/defense. ..IOW winning the game. And the youngsters now on the roster, aside from Dominguez and maybe Wells, show that there’s not a bat between them. So brimming with talent is a huge overstatement.
Torres worth keeping for at least another year. One day he’ll wake up and work hard to use his talent… probably in his walk year.
Why not see if he can play third base. Move Volpe to second base, hopefully he learns how to hit, play Peraza at shortstop, he is better defensively and use DJ as your utility backup at first, second, third, DH. At least Torres can hit, something Volpe and Peraza still have to show. Trading him only opens another hole to deal with. Don’t trade him.
No go on a trade. He was the best Yankee this year. People say he goes into Bernie world, but remember Berne was the best hitter on the Yankees for many years. Why trade a proven winner for more of the crap out there. Yankees should do their due diligence and get reliable pitching, a third baseman who hits, and fill in the bullpen. The two big reasons for failure this year are players hurt every other week, and hitting that was weak and inefficient at times. Get on the ball Yankees.
Although G.Torres is not a consistent player, I think he can improve his performance if the batting coach work with him harder in changing his batting swing which is always going upward. That’s why he connects to much high flys balls.
Crazy to even consider trading your second best hitter on a team that has absolutely nothing behind him and Judge. You need to sandwich Judge between two 280-300 hitters. Take the analytics and throw them out the window. Look at the 1998 team.