Gleyber Torres‘ future with the New York Yankees is in limbo after the team declined to extend a qualifying offer to the veteran second baseman this offseason.
Torres had a subpar 2024 season, but picked it up in the final two months, hitting .276 in August and .333 in September. The second baseman also hit two home runs for the Yankees in the playoffs, including in the bottom of the 8th of Game 4 of the World Series, which broke the game open in their lone win.
Gleyber’s Defensive Problems
Torres’ defense, however, remained a liability throughout the year. He led all second basemen in the majors with 18 errors.
His defensive follies extended into the postseason, with a costly error in Game 1 of the World Series that allowed Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Shohei Ohtani to advance to third with one out. Ohtani then scored to tie the game on a Mookie Betts sacrifice fly.
Torres was also benched for a game in August for not hustling to first.
It remains unclear whether the Yankees will bring him back. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees will let Torres test the free agent market but could give him a look later on in the winter.
But commenters on social media — where the true experts are — believe they know where Torres is headed.
The Tale of Two Fences
The Baltimore Orioles announced today that they were pulling the left-field wall at Camden Yards back in — a reversal of a move some say was inspired by Torres.
In 2022, the Orioles moved their left-field fence back 26.5 feet, some say, because of Torres. In his first 59 career games against the Orioles, Torres hit .328 with 16 home runs.
Baseball fans on X believe that’s a sign Torres could either be going to the Orioles or a team outside the American League East.
Gleyber’s Real Options
Torres is unlikely to go to the Orioles for one big reason: Jackson Holliday.
The 20-year-old 2022 No. 1 overall pick will probably be the Orioles’ starting second baseman in 2025. Holliday struggled early on in his rookie season. He was demoted to Triple-A in April weeks after batting .059 in the first 10 games of the 2024 season. At the end of July, he returned to the team, picking up the pace to hit .218 over August and September.
The Orioles are deep in the infield with Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg at third. Former Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo will return to the Orioles as a utility player after UCL reconstruction surgery on his left elbow.
The Post’s Heyman says Heyman could go to the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, or Seattle Mariners if he doesn’t re-sign with the Yankees.
As for the gaping hole at second, the Yankees could fill it by moving Jazz Chisolm Jr. from third. Prospect Caleb Durbin could be brought up as a budget option for second. Re-signing Juan Soto won’t be cheap, after all.