The New York Yankees have made numerous roster enhancements this winter with the aim of bouncing back from a disappointing 82-80 season in 2023. Looking forward to the upcoming winter, they face the prospect of investing heavily to secure outfielder Juan Soto on a long-term contract. However, the situation with infielder Gleyber Torres also warrants consideration.
Torres is set to enter free agency in November and is currently earning $14.2 million for the 2024 season with the Yankees, as reported by Spotrac. In a recent series of articles on The Athletic, Tim Britton provided contract estimations for several players approaching free agency at the end of the season. It’s important to note that this exercise was aimed at assessing player value rather than predicting extension signings.
In the case of Torres, the projected extension stands at four years and $68 million. This estimate represents a substantial discount of $60 million according to Spotrac’s market value calculation. With an annual market value estimated at $18.3 million, Spotrac forecasts a potential seven-year, $128 million contract for Torres.
Torres Is Hoping to Be a Yankee for Life
Chris Kirschner, a journalist for The Athletic, recently spoke with Gleyber Torres at New York’s spring training facility in Tampa, Florida, on March 5. When questioned about his impending contract situation, the second baseman expressed a strong desire to remain with the Yankees for the entirety of his career.
Torres emphasized his sense of belonging, stating, “I always say, I feel (at) home right now.” He further elaborated, highlighting his familiarity with the organization since 2016, adding, “I feel good. I know everybody. As a player, you never want to leave your house. I’m in a good spot. I want to be a Yankee for life. That’s one of my goals. Let’s see what happens.”
Torres joined the Yankees during the 2016 trade deadline when Aroldis Chapman was traded to the Chicago Cubs, with Torres being one of the four players acquired in return, alongside Adam Warren, Billy McKinney, and Rashad Crawford.
The 27-year-old infielder made his Major League Baseball debut in 2018, enjoying successful initial seasons. He earned All-Star Game selections in both of his first two seasons, boasting impressive statistics. Torres recorded a .820 OPS with 24 home runs and 77 RBI as a rookie, followed by a .871 OPS, 38 homers, and 90 RBI in 2019.
Although Torres didn’t reach an OPS of .800 or higher again until 2023, he managed to achieve exactly that, along with 25 home runs, 28 doubles, 68 RBI, and 90 runs scored. Additionally, he contributed 13 stolen bases, marking his third consecutive season with at least 10 stolen bases.
Brian Cashman Doesn’t Sound as Sure About That
While Gleyber Torres has expressed his strong desire to remain with the Yankees for the long term, general manager Brian Cashman is maintaining a cautious approach.
Cashman addressed Torres’ contract situation on February 16, stating, “He’s our second baseman for this year. Haven’t had any conversations about anything past that,” as reported by WFAN. As Opening Day approaches rapidly, the likelihood of a preseason extension seems slim. Cashman remained uncertain about the possibility of negotiations during the regular season, stating, “Who knows? I don’t know. As of right now there haven’t been any discussions on that.”
While circumstances may change in the coming months, it appears probable that Torres will enter the open market next winter, though he remains hopeful of securing a new deal with the Yankees.
