Second baseman Gleyber Torres was a huge piece of the New York Yankees’ postseason run this past year, dominating as their leadoff hitter in October. But despite his magical turnaround in 2024 that saw him go from one of the Yankees’ worst hitters to one of their best, it doesn’t look like the 27-year-old will be returning to the Bronx.
The Yankees did not grant Torres a qualifying offer, and when asked about Torres’ free agency, general manager Brian Cashman stated, “I’m not gonna dissect what he’s good at and not as good at. Obviously, he’ll have a lot of conversations with a lot of teams that have a need in that area and that might include us, who knows. But appreciate his efforts while he was here.” That doesn’t sound like a GM who wants to bring his player back, meaning that Gleyber Torres is almost certainly going to hit the open market as a free agent.
“I’m not gonna dissect what he’s good at and not as good at. Obviously he’ll have a lot of conversations with a lot of teams that have a need in that area and that might include us, who knows. But appreciate his efforts while he was here”
– Brian Cashman on Gleyber Torres pic.twitter.com/BIstv72I1f
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) November 5, 2024
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Gleyber Torres Appears Likely to Find New Home as Free Agent
Chances of Staying
At this point, it doesn’t seem likely for the Yankees to re-sign Torres, but there’s still a chance it happens. The two-time All-Star has spent all seven seasons of his career with New York, and he has repeatedly stated that he wants to keep playing in the Bronx. And based on Torres’ dominant second half, why wouldn’t the Yankees want to bring him back?
Gleyber has reached base as the leadoff hitter in seven of eight postseason games pic.twitter.com/2i6nCv4UXK
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 19, 2024
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The first answer is money. The Yankees have a lot of places that need financial reallocation even without re-signing Juan Soto, so the team may have to bid a reluctant farewell to Torres. But if he doesn’t reach a deal with any other teams and is willing to take a less expensive deal, the Yankees may have no other choice but to re-sign him.
Positional Value
Torres is going to get a lot of demand this offseason; partially because of his bat, but also due to the lack of alternatives at second base. Torres is arguably the headliner of a fairly unremarkable second base class that includes Jose Iglesias, Kyle Farmer, Whit Merrifield, and Brandon Drury. Not many of these names stand out as being solid starting second basemen other than Torres, so he will probably get a lot of attention from teams in need of middle-infield help.
Potentially Interested Teams
An intriguing option for Torres would be to stay in New York–that is if the other New York team wants him. The Mets may be in the market for an upgrade from Jeff McNeil/Jose Iglesias, and since Torres wants to stay in New York, it could be a perfect match (not to mention, the price wouldn’t be a problem for Steve Cohen). Other potential suitors include the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals. These teams have been linked to Torres and/or seeking reinforcements at second base.
Regardless, Torres’ offensive impact is undeniable. Even when struggling he puts up respectable numbers; he is always getting on base (.334 career OBP) and serves as a solid addition to any lineup. And after the Yankees’ latest postseason run, where Torres shined with 14 hits and a .348 OBP, teams now know that he can be a threat from the top or bottom of the lineup.
Even if Torres doesn’t re-sign with the Yankees, it’s been a memorable tenure in pinstripes for the Venezuelan second baseman. But it’s undeniable that in 2025 and beyond, he will have a huge impact on whatever lineup he ends up suiting up for.
Photo Credit: © John Jones-Imagn Images
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