Insider: Yankees 2x All-Star "On The Outside Looking In"; Trade Possible

With two elite middle infield prospects knocking on the door, the New York Yankees keystone combo of the future is looking more and more these days like it doesn't include former two-time Yankees All-Star Gleyber Torres.

Oswald Peraza seems to have the inside lane for the starting shortstop job this spring, and Anthony Volpe even played second base in a spring training game. New York baseball insider Andy Martino said today on MLB Network Radio that Torres seems to be "on the outside looking in" when it comes to the Yankees' future.

Gleyber Torres has to earn his way back into the Yankees' long-term plans. He has two years left before he's a free agent, but when he was asked if he talked to the Yankees about an extension, he literally said 'I wish.' 

Martino went on to say that a trade of Torres is certainly not out of the question.

He's just on the outside looking in at the future there... As of right now, Gleyber Torres and his (contract) are expendable for the Yankees, if those young players (Volpe, Peraza) develop.

As Martino notes, Hal Steinbrenner and Co. do not want to pay huge luxury taxes, so money issues could even dictate moving on from Torres. 

"The Yankees are right up against that 'Steve Cohen Tax Threshold', so if they wanna add to the major league payroll this year (at the trade deadline), they are probably (also) going to have to subtract. Moving Torres' money would be one way."

Still only 26, Torres came up in 2018, and immediately put together two All-Star seasons, averaging 31 HR and 84 RBIs those first two year, with an OPS in the mid-.800s. But the last few years have brought on some struggles, with single-digit homers in '20 and '21 and an OPS closer to the .700 range. He did bounce back with 24 long balls last season and a .761 OPS. He'll definitely have some trade value, if that's the route they choose to go.

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