PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS
Gleyber’s likely to be Yank shortstop with Didi expected to leave
After a rookie year that had him finish as the third finalist for the Rookie of the Year, Gleyber Torres wasn’t satisfied. He put his mind to getting into better shape last winter. The 22year-old responded with a break-out power season in 2019, adding 55 points to his slugging percentage.
Yankee manager Aaron Boone sees in these small steps the rise a future star of the game.
“I am just really proud of the continued strides that I see with him, from the time he got called up last year, was an impact player for us,” Boone said earlier this year. “His game in little subtle ways has improved as well, and those are some things we’ve challenged him on. I feel like he’s met every challenge and continues to become this more polished, well-rounded great player at such a young
age.”
This year, the Yankees have to hope Torres’ focus on improvement includes his defense, because it is likely the emerging star is going to be their shortstop heading into Opening Day 2020.
With Didi Gregorius likely to be commanding a threeyear deal on the free-agent market and already talking to the Phillies about a reunion with former manager Joe Girardi, the Yankees are in need of a starting shortstop. There has been some wishful talk about a possible trade for Francisco Lindor, who is a better player right now and a muchneeded switch-hitting bat for the Yankees right-handed-heavy lineup — that, however, goes against how the Yankees have been operating under this new Hal Steinbrenner regime. It would cost too much in terms of controllable, young players.
Of course the Yankees could go out and try and sign an Elvis Andrus or even Gregorius himself, but the Yankees seemed to sign their decision last season.
The Yankees have been convinced they can focus their offseason on filling other needs ever since they were forced to play Torres at shortstop because of injuries last season. Playing Torres at shortstop allows D.J. LeMahieu to get regular reps at second base, where he had played the majority of his career before becoming a super utility player in 2019. That will leave the Yankees with a platoon of
Luke Voit, who the Yankees have to hope rebounds after a season hindered by a sports hernia, and the leftyhitting Mike Ford.
Ironically, the Yankees went out of their way to try and keep Torres from playing shortstop last year. Who could forget Troy Tulowitzki’s brief cameo in pinstripes to start the season? With Gregorius sidelined to start the season because of Tommy John surgery, the Yankees were adamant about finding a stop gap, they wanted to make sure the young Torres continued his development as a second baseman.
But, with Tulowitzki’s comeback and Yankees career short-lived, Torres and the Yankees were forced into the exact situation they wanted to avoid. Torres had to start 73 games at shortstop this season.
Torres came up as a shortstop, it’s his “natural” position, but many think he may have “out-grown” it.
“His body is getting a little thick for a shortstop,” one scout said. “He may have given up some of his quickness and range as he’s filled out and bulked up a little.”
But in 659.2 innings at shortstop this season, Torres showed the Yankees they can live with his defense there. In fact, he improved his UZR rating from a -2.8 in 2018 to -2.1 and went from a neutral 0 defensive runs saved in 2018 to a 1 in 2019.
Those numbers were improved from his rookie season, but they are well below the league average. Torres made some mistakes on routine plays last season, but he also made some spectacular plays in big spots.
At almost 23 years old — his birthday is Dec. 13 — he still has room to improve.
“When he made mistakes, he has rushing or looking ahead,” a National League scout said. “Gleyber may not have the best range, but the Yankees do a good job of placing him in the right spot and he can make the plays. He can improve.”
And those numbers are good enough when the Yankees look at what Torres provided offensively. Torres hit .278 with 38 homers and 90 RBI with five stolen bases and an .871 OPS in the regular season. He was one of the few Yankees who continued to hit in the postseason, going 12for-37 with five doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI in the playoffs for the Yankees.
Torres is still developing into the player he will be. The Yankees see an offensive star, who can handle shortstop, at least for now.