The hot corner in the Big Apple may not be as secure as fans expect it to be. As New York Yankees’ star second baseman Gleyber Torres enters the last year of his rookie deal, one expects talks of a contract extension. But fate has it different. The talks about his contract are yet to materialize. Or perhaps yet to even be initiated.
General Manager Brian Cashman spoke with the media on Thursday in Tampa. And he shed some light on where he sees the Venezuelan next year. Based on his words, there appears to be some intrigue developing in this regard. Unsurprisingly, Cashman didn’t show his hand.
Is This The Last Year We Will See Gleyber Torres In Pinstripes?
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“He’s our second baseman for this year, haven’t had any conversations about anything past that,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. While technically accurate, this statement does not do much to soothe the rising anxiety of fans who were audience to Torres’ bounce-back show in 2023’s season.
Brian Cashman said that the Yankees have not had any extension talks with Gleyber Torres, noting that he is their second baseman “for this season.”
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) February 15, 2024
The 27-year-old slashed an impressive .273 with 25 home runs and 68 RBIs last year. This was a much-needed performance to prove that he still possesses the potential to be a valuable part of the team. Nevertheless, Cashman’s ambiguous statement about not yet having an extension conversation fuels conjecture that the Yanks don’t want to commit long-term. It’s perhaps because of the highly anticipated arrival of Anthony Volpe in that position.
Adding to the intrigue, the Yankees’ offseason was quite busy particularly as they acquired offensive powerhouses like Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. While these moves were made to win-now, any long-term commitment remains ambiguous. Possibly, Torres’ performance in the upcoming season could be the deciding factor about his future in the pinstripes. But why the hesitation from the front office?
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Could there be a financial aspect to this crucial decision? Well, with Juan Soto potentially demanding a monstrous contract extension, the Yankees are likely to allocate their funds elsewhere. It’s key to remember that Torres’ arbitration salary is approximately $14.2 million, which is why a long-term deal could hugely impact their budget.
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That said, what does it all mean for Torres in the Bronx? One must only wait and see. While Torres has the chance to establish his position with an impressive 2024 season, he might have to press hard for an extension. Amid all this, one thing is for sure, the fans will be seated on the edge of their seats as they see the Yankees’ contract negotiations unfurl.