Second baseman Gleyber Torres, who has made himself home at the New York Yankees over the past seven years, is slated to hit free agency next year. His contract is set to expire by the end of October, with the Bombers yet undecided on a potential extension bid.
Next year’s free agency is pivotal for the New York Yankees especially with Juan Soto’s retention at stake. The team is serious about buying him back which will certainly cost them a fortune. Amid this, Gleyber Torres is already contemplating on the future whilst keeping a realistic expectation on the outcome.
Gleyber Torres Opens Up On Free Agency Plans
Second baseman Gleyber Torres’ 2024 season with the New York Yankees has been a rollercoaster, marked by struggles at the plate and in the field. Statistically, this season ranks among the worst of his career. Hitting .257 with 15 home runs in 154 games, Torres fell short of his career averages of a .267 batting average and 27 home runs per season. Moreover, his defensive struggles were also noticeable, matching his career-high 18 errors and recording a -7 outs above average (OAA), according to Baseball Savant. And Torres, aware of the stakes, acknowledged the importance of this year, particularly as he approaches free agency. In a candid conversation with The Athletic, Torres revealed the pressure he felt being an impending free agent.
“Sometimes I just think like, ‘If I don’t do right, maybe I’m not going to sign here. Maybe I’m going to some other place,” Gleyber Torres said. Having said that, this looming uncertainty motivated Torres to turn his season around, especially in the second half. After the All-Star break, he improved significantly, batting .293 with a .780 OPS while cutting his strikeout rate by 5%. Indeed, his improvements in the latter part of the season carried into the postseason, where, although his average hasn’t been stellar (.211), he has been productive with one home run, a double, and six walks. Additionally, his ability to cut down strikeouts while maintaining plate discipline has given the Yankees a solid contributor during their playoff run. Whether his second-half performance will be enough to secure his future with the Yanks remains to be seen. But Torres’ determination to succeed has kept him in the conversation heading into free agency.
A Former Yankee Aided Gleyber Torres Resurgence
Gleyber Torres’ performance has been pivotal for the New York Yankees during the 2024 postseason, and much of this resurgence can be attributed to his work with former teammate Gio Urshela. Despite being away from the team for three years, Urshela has remained a close friend and mentor to Torres.
This bond became especially significant during the All-Star break when Torres, struggling with a disappointing season batting .231 with a .654 OPS, sought to regain his form. In a bid to reset, Torres spent time at a facility he co-owns with Urshela in Tampa, focusing on refining his swing. Urshela advised him to reduce the number of ground balls he was hitting.
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