When Gleyber Torres was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees in 2016 as part of the Aroldis Chapman deal, he arrived with high expectations. His first two seasons lived up to the hype; the young second baseman became a two-time All-Star, posting a .271 batting average, 62 home runs, and an .845 OPS between 2018 and 2019.
However, his trajectory faltered when he was moved to shortstop in 2020. His struggles were magnified as his defensive metrics declined and his power diminished. After hitting nine home runs in 127 games in 2021, the Yankees shifted Torres back to second base, where he performed adequately but without distinction.
Fast forward to 2024, and Torres found himself at a crossroads. After two solid but unremarkable seasons (24 and 25 home runs in 2022 and 2023, respectively), his future in New York seemed uncertain. He was an average second baseman and a below-average baserunner. Heading into a contract year, Torres was batting just .231 with a disappointing .654 OPS in the season’s first half.
Then came a turning point: the leadoff role.
On July 24, Torres was moved to the leadoff spot, a decision made out of necessity with DJ LeMahieu injured and Anthony Volpe struggling. He responded remarkably, raising his OPS to .755 while hitting .283 with six home runs in that role. His resurgence helped maintain the offense’s consistency, complementing the threats posed by Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
This revival continued into the postseason, where Torres made an impact in the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, leading off both games with hits and helping to spark early scoring in Game 2. He finished with a .933 OPS over 24 postseason at-bats.
The pressing question now is: What does Torres’ performance mean for his future with the Yankees?
As a free agent at the end of the season, Torres finds himself in a pivotal position. The Yankees are expected to free up over $100 million in payroll after this year, which could allow them to sign him to a four- or five-year deal. However, the situation becomes more complicated with the looming possibility of a massive contract for Juan Soto.
Soto, who is a close friend of Torres, could command a deal exceeding $500 million, which would significantly impact the Yankees’ payroll. This could push them past the $241 million luxury-tax threshold before they even address other roster needs, including retaining Torres.
Additionally, with young infield prospects like George Lombard Jr. and Roderick Arias projected to reach the majors by 2027, the Yankees have added pressure when it comes to deciding Torres’ future. Despite these challenges, Torres has maintained his focus on the present.
“I know I have really good players behind me,” Torres told Dan Martin of the New York Post. “Getting the responsibility to be leadoff is huge for me, so I just try to do the right thing and worry about free agency after the season and hopefully after the World Series.”
For now, Torres is demonstrating that he can still be an essential part of the Yankees lineup. However, whether that will continue in 2025 and beyond remains a crucial question for the front office to address soon.
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