After a disastrous 2023 season, the Yankees are looking to bounce back. They are in the painstaking process of assessing their players and looking out for possible trades to further strengthen their team. Among the host of problems at their disposal, one intriguing case is that of Gleyber Torres.

Once considered among the brightest prospects in the baseball world, the 26-year-old second baseman had a good enough season in 2023 while featuring in 158 games. Torres averaged .273 while scoring 25 home runs. While his stats are not a world-beater, he has been better than the likes of superstars like Pete Alonso and Manny Machado, among others. Still, the Yankees don’t seem too keen on retaining the Venezuelan. But why?

Yankees’ rationale behind not retaining Torres

Retaining a durable player like Torres despite all the uncertainty in the Bombers squad might be a tempting option. But the management had its reasons. The Yankees are looking for the future, having the options of Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe at their disposal. At the same time, they’re also looking for trades amongst the likes of Juan Soto or Cody Bellinger to further bolster their squad. In such a situation, there is little room left for Torres. Moreover, Torres’s sketchy defense and unreliability regarding his form are also a concern for the Yankees’ management.

Adding to that, since Torres is slated for free agency, his $9.95 million contract is at least set to go up to $15.3 million as per MLB Trade Rumors arbitration predictions. The Yankees, who already are above the luxury tax threshold, might not be willing to splurge as much.

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While the Torres situation is in limbo, the fans are up in a debate of their own about whether the Yankees should retain him.

Supporters are urging for a transformation

As the reports of the Yankees not having approached Torres yet came out, it brought about a bunch of reactions from the fans. Surprisingly, most seemed in tune with the Yankee’s approach. In response to Torres’ stats, one fan said:

While another fan decided to take a more direct approach while calling for change, stating:

Another fan also stepped in with his two cents regarding where the Yankees should focus should be:

And another fan reiterated a similar emotion, but in different words, stating:

While many were quick to criticize the Venezuelan while agreeing with the Yankees:

It is only rare when the Yankees fanbase is on the same page as the management. While the last call hasn’t been made regarding Torres’s future, it will be interesting to see how the story pans out. Tell us what you think. Should Torres be retained? Let us know!

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