Infielder Gleyber Torres re-signed with the New York Yankees at the end of the off-season in a one-year deal to avoid arbitration. The deal received mixed reactions from the fans as Torres’ performance remained subpar last season. However, the baseman turned it around and made a splashing comeback in 2023. For the month of April, he was the best-performing Yankee.
There was no looking back from that stage. Till now, he has scored .246 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs, which also makes him the only second baseman in AL to have these many homers. While offensively, Gleyber Torres has held the fort, his athleticism, base running abilities, and defensive skills have come under scrutiny in the past few weeks. It led to a podcaster calling him out for the same.
Podcaster Says Gleyber Torres Is Embarrassing The Whole Team! Needs To Take Accountability
Gleyber Torres has invited criticism through his awful plays and athleticism on the field. Last week against the Rangers, Torres made a massive base running blunder. Harrison Bader launched a pop-up that was caught in the outfield by Rangers’ Marcus Semien. Meanwhile, Torres, stationed at second base, ran mindlessly to the third, completely unaware of the fact that the ball had been caught. The fans could not believe it, as it was the infielder’s third blunder in a short span. Prior to this, he made a defensive error against the Mets and another baserunning error against Mariners.
Another baserunning blunder for Gleyber Torres. Inexcusable. #Yankees
— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) June 25, 2023
pic.twitter.com/J1zzNpmpyX
Meanwhile, podcasters of Talkin Yanks called out Gleyber Torres for his lack of accountability. They said that Torres is publicly humiliating the team and must take the blame on a public forum. A speaker added that while on the plate, the baseman is a force to be reckoned with, the awful defensive plays weaken his case. Further, he indirectly urged the Yankees to consider benching Gleyber for a few games while citing the example of the Tampa Bay Rays. The podcaster’s criticism is not totally untrue. Holding players accountable for their performance is a vital part of any team’s development and success. By addressing Torres’ baserunning deficiencies, the Yankees can help him grow as a player and improve his overall game.
We’ve learned that accountability is not something the Yankees will be considering this season pic.twitter.com/kZvptXIiut
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) June 26, 2023
Torres’ Roster Spot Under Threat As Trade Deadline Looms Over Yankees
The trade deadline is inching closer with every passing hour, and the New York Yankees are predicted to stay highly active during the window. Honestly, they need some significant additions to bolster their struggling roster. Since Aaron Judge landed in IL, things have gone haywire. Choosing someone to trade with is the easiest part. The most difficult decision is to choose whom to let go. If you look at the Yankees’ roster construction, they have a logjam in the infield and scarcity in the outfield.
Hence, the team is most likely to trade off an infielder in exchange for an outfielder. Second baseman, Gleyber Torres, is most likely to face the axe. While IKF has secured his spot by transforming into a utility player, Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu have their past record to vouch for them. Hence, Gleyber Torres is the only scapegoat left with the Yankees to sacrifice. As far as Torres is concerned, he wants to stay in the Bronx for as long as he can. But the current dynamic might force him out.
