Career Uncertainty Must Induce Postseason Success For Gleyber Torres
Second baseman Gleyber Torres has spent the past seven seasons playing for the New York Yankees while experiencing varying degrees of success and failure. Torres will confront the uncertainties of free agency this offseason with an understanding that he is not a top priority for the Yankees. Their undivided attention will be focused on re-signing outfielder Juan Soto to a long-term contract in a bidding war that could reach upwards of $600 million. In what could be his final days of wearing the venerable pinstripes, Torres must focus on achieving postseason success while elevating his value as an upcoming free agent. A departure from the Bronx after experiencing World Series glory will ensure a lifetime of adoration from fans who want to remember Torres as a key contributor on a championship-winning ball club.
Last season, the value of Major League Baseball's qualifying offer for a one-year contract was $20.325 million based on the mean salary of the sport's 125 highest-paid ball players. Don't be surprised if $21 million is the new contract value of the qualifying offer given the escalation in salaries for the 2024 season. If Soto hasn't already agreed to a contract extension, expect him to be the only impending free agent from the Yankees to receive and quickly reject a qualifying offer. He should receive a qualifying offer within five days of the conclusion of the World Series. If Soto leaves via free agency after receiving and rejecting a qualifying offer, the Yankees will receive compensation in the form of a 2025 draft pick after the fourth round since they are expected to be a Competitive Balance Tax payor according to the collective bargaining agreement.
The temptation of accepting a one-year contract possibly valued at $21 million would be far too great for Torres given another mediocre season in which he earned $14.2 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. Based on data collected using FanGraphs, Torres is a defensive liability and has regressed since demonstrating signs of improvement during the 2022 season. There were 13 second basemen who had played at least 1,000 innings at the position this past season. In terms of defensive runs saved (DRS), Torres posted a -11 DRS. Only Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros fared worse in this statistical category among the 13 second basemen with a -13 DRS.
Torres' defensive deficiencies during his age-27 season were also evident in the ultimate zone rating (UZR) statistic. His -6.7 UZR was the worst among the baker's dozen of second basemen according to FanGraphs. In 5,313.1 innings at second base throughout his major league career, Torres has posted a -14 DRS and -16.7 UZR. During the 2018-2024 seasons, there have only been seven second basemen who have surpassed 5,000 innings played at the position and Torres has the worst UZR among the septet of ball players. His 62 errors are the most at the position over the past seven seasons.
The Yankees' midseason acquisition of Jazz Chisholm, Jr. from the Miami Marlins takes on greater significance not only for his versatility, but as a ball player who earned $2.625 million on a one-year contract in his first year of arbitration eligibility according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. Defensive positioning has been an area of criticism for the Yankees as it is most evident at second base. Based on the defensive metrics of DRS and UZR, Chisholm, Jr.'s best position is second base thanks to a 7 DRS and -2.2 UZR over 1,330.1 innings according to FanGraphs. The Yankees have experimented with Chisholm, Jr. at third base out of necessity where he has produced a -2 DRS and -0.4 UZR over 400.1 innings. Torres becomes expendable this offseason due to two seasons of arbitration eligibility for Chisholm, Jr. and a defensive upgrade at second base.
Defensive woes, mental lapses in judgement and the occasional lack of effort have infuriated fans and management alike throughout Torres' tenure in the Bronx. However, there always seems to be a redeeming quality that saves Torres from the torrent of criticism. Whether it is the potential of being a difference maker in a key situation or glimpses of a two-time American League all star prior to his age-23 season, Torres is more of an enigma than stalwart at a pivotal time in his career.
Torres demonstrated value during the regular season while batting first in the lineup. In 56 ball games where he had batted first for the Yankees, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit directly behind Torres on 54 occasions. In total, Torres posted a .755 on-base plus slugging (OPS) while batting first in the lineup as the Yankees achieved a 34-22 record. According to Baseball-Reference, the major league average in terms of OPS when batting first in the lineup was .739 OPS for the 2024 regular season.
An argument can be made that Torres might have plateaued as a ball player while the Yankees are trying to adhere to stricter fiscal policies except for their pursuit of Soto. They will fight the urge to overpay based on emotion and use utility ball player DJ LeMahieu's six-year, $90 million contract as a cautionary tale when it comes to Torres' upcoming free agency. Upon re-signing with the Yankees in January 2021, LeMahieu had just won his second batting title and finished third in the American League's Most Valuable Player Award voting for achievements during his age-31 season. Sadly, LeMahieu has battled injuries and a precipitous decline in performance while still owed $30 million over the next two seasons according to Cot's Baseball Contracts.
Gleyber Torres' value to the New York Yankees this postseason begins with being an offensive catalyst at the top of the lineup while minimizing mental miscues and lapses in defensive judgement at second base. By exhibiting patience in the batter's box and creating chaos on the base paths, Torres will elevate a pitcher's stress level with the looming presence of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge behind him. It is unlikely that Torres will return to the Yankees next season based on performance and desired compensation. However, Torres can ensure a heroic legacy with a final postseason in pinstripes filled with moments of brilliance which leads to the glory of a world championship.
