Gleyber Torres

Will the New York Yankees re-sign both Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner?

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New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius, Brett Gardner

While free agents like Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg will plaster the headlines during the offseason for the New York Yankees, we cannot devalue options like Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner.

Both veterans for the Bombers played significant roles in reaching the ALCS against the Houston Astros, and reports have indicated that the team will pursue both in free agency, despite Cashman rejecting the qualifying offer for the shortstop.

General manager Brian Cashman commented on the potential of bringing back Didi:

“I can’t tell you ‘less likely, more likely,’ he said. “I can just tell you Didi was a great player for us. He’s a free agent now, so there’s gonna be competition for his services. We will continue to engage and see if it leads to continuing a relationship or not. But up to this point we’ve been very fortunate and happy to have him as a member of our franchise. Maybe we’ll be able to say that for a couple of years as well — or not — but that remains to be seen. I can’t predict.”

Gregorius is not only a reliable defender and a lefty bat, but he’s a staple in the locker-room. There will be competition to bring back Didi, with the Cincinnati Reds expected to pursue him, but the Yankees undoubtedly have the advantage if they’re willing to part with at least $10 million in cap space.

Batting .238 and hitting 16 homers last season doesn’t scream efficiency, but the Bombers have preferred high homerun totals in place of a lousy batting average. Similar to Didi, Brett Gardner saw his long-ball totals sky-rocket in his 12th season in the MLB. Logging 28 homers over 141 games, Gardner a career-high in the category — timely for a Yankees team struggling with injuries.

Bringing Gardner back should be a priority for Cashman this offseason, considering his likeness and leadership. He’s also a valuable defender and can fill every outfield position if needed. While he did count $7.5 million against the cap last season, if the Yanks can bringing him back on a deal under $4 million, they would be adding a consistent starting-quality player that understands the Yankee way and what their mentality is heading into 2020.

The New York Yankees could move on from Didi Gregorius:

Didi will undoubtedly be asking for more of an investment than the Yankees, and they could quickly move on from him in favor of Gleyber Torres. The 22-year-old is primed to take over at shortstop with DJ LaMehiu’s preferred position being second-base. The switch has to made eventually, and expediting the process makes sense for the Bombers in 2020.

New York Yankees will attempt to bring Didi Gregorius back to the Bronx

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New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

The primary focus this offseason for the New York Yankees will undoubtedly be the starting pitching rotation, especially when it comes to Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg on the mound. Their services will be pursued by general manager Brian Cashman, despite owner Hal Steinbrenner’s comments concerning the lack of run production during the playoffs.

However, there are several players that Cashman is still intrigued by, some of whom were on the Yankees last season. Shortstop Didi Gregorius is one of those players, an every-day starter in the infield who is a productive hitter as well. Last season, though, he only batted .238 but smacked 16 homers, a mentality the Bombers have prioritized in recent years. Bringing in players that sacrifice batting average for home run totals is the ideology Cashman has adopted, and Gregorius has amended his style to the modern-day Yankee way.

Will the New York Yankees bring Didi Gregorius back?

The Yankees and Gregorius’ agent have been in contact about a potential return, but Cashman mentioned the competition for his services.

“I can’t tell you ‘less likely, more likely,’ he said. “I can just tell you Didi was a great player for us. He’s a free agent now, so there’s gonna be competition for his services. We will continue to engage and see if it leads to continuing a relationship or not. But up to this point we’ve been very fortunate and happy to have him as a member of our franchise. Maybe we’ll be able to say that for a couple of years as well — or not — but that remains to be seen. I can’t predict.”

If Cashman elects to pass on Gregorius in free agency, he will likely look to Gleyber Torres to take over the shortstop position, with DJ LeMahieu returning to second base, his strong suit. Realistically, this is the best option for the Yankees, as they see Torres as the future at shortstop, and providing him the opportunity to refine his abilities early on is essential.

Bringing back Gregorius would not only take up a significant portion of available money, but it would compromise the Yankees’ ability to pursue a premium starting pitcher.

What are the Yankees planning for Gleyber Torres next season?

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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

The Yankees infield may go through a bit of a shift next season with Didi Gregorius likely departing in free agency. In the second year of a two-year, $24 million deal, DJ LeMahieu will slot into second-base, his priority position. Having him as an established presence in the infield at his defensive peak will only allow him to perform at a higher level.

The Yankees can finally set a foundation in the infield:

In 2019, LeMahieu moved all around the infield, playing every position before finally settling in at first base to close out the postseason. This allowed Gleyber Torres to play at second, taking him away from the position general manager Brian Cashman has always envision him at.

However, with Didi on his way out, the reality of established Torres at shortstop is finally happening. Luckily, Torres already has ample experience at the position, considerin he supplemented the loss of Gregorius as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Cashman stated:

“He showed, clearly, in the absence of Didi last year that we could be a really effective franchise with him at short andDJ LeMahieu at second. It played out well, and that will be part of the evaluation, but is that the best that we should be doing as we move forward? Or is it with Didi at short? Or is it with some other alternative that’s a potential trade or a free agent signing that we haven’t been talking about? Those are the things we have to evaluate and discuss.”

While Didi was out of the lineup, Torres played 75 games at shortstop, and he played phenomenal for the most part, despite his defense struggling at times. Practice makes perfect, meaning experience at the position will allow him to alleviate any severe concerns for the future.

Torres batted .289 with 25 homers and a .954 OPS last year while Gregorius only hit .238. Making the switch and plugging LeMahieu in at second base should improve the team as a whole.

The Yankees can go one of two ways at shortstop, does it involve Didi Gregorius?

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New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

After the rejection of Didi Gregorius’ qualifying offer of $17.8 million, the Yankees now have to make a decision on the shortstop position. They can go several ways this offseason.

Either they elect to move Gleyber Torres into a permanent role at short or look into potential free agents to fill the void. However, the idea of re-signing Gregorius isn’t a bad one by any means. Not only is he loved in the Yankees clubhouse, but he’s been efficient on offense and defense for the club over his tenure.

Coming off Tommy John surgery, Didi finished the 2019 season with a .238 batting average, 16 homers, and 61 RBIs. His season was highlighted by his defensive quality and ability to pull balls over the short right porch at Yankees stadium. A Grand Slam in the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins attests to his value in clutch situations and overall production.

The 2019 season wasn’t Didi’s best, though, as coming off a significant injury undoubtedly played a part in his momentum. He seems to be 100% healthy and ready to return to a full-time role in 2020. The question for the Yankees is, do they bring him back on a multi-year deal or let him walk and move Torres into his natural position, where he struggled earlier in the year.

Torres’ progression makes the most sense, considering he’s the future at shortstop, but having DJ LeMahieu available for one more year makes that switch a bit less pressing. Ideally, LeMahieu would play his preferred second-base, and Gleyber would begin his tenure at short, but Gregorius offers a lot more than just production in the field — he’s an icon for the fan-base and leader on the team.

There isn’t much talent on the free-agent market for the Yankees:

The current shortstop market is stripped clean of any skill greater than or equal to Gregorius’. Adeiny Hechavarria, Jose Iglesias, Jordy Mercer, or Chris Owings headline the top options behind the lefty hitter.

Ultimately, it boils down to a decision in the infield — is Torres ready to make the jump to short? If he is, there’s no need for Didi on the roster, but if Cashman prefers quality depth, the answer should be simple. Signing him to a one-year deal in the $13-14 million range could be the answer, as the Yankees likely believed he would accept the qualifying offer, which was too expensive for the value he brings to the team.

The New York Yankees have had this plan for Gleyber Torres all along

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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

With the New York Yankees electing to reject shortstop Didi Gregorius’ qualifying offer of $17.8 million next season, they have a decision to make. Do they go out and sign a top-notch shortstop to fill the void, or follow their original game plan?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a moment to remember Didi’s accomplishments, he deserves that much. Over the past few seasons, Gregorius has been a staple for the Yankees at short. Coming up with big hits time and time again, the locker-room connoisseur will undoubtedly be missed, and after having Tommy John surgery, paying him $17.8 million just wasn’t in the cards.

However, a game-tying homer in the 2017 Wild Card game, two homers against Corey Kluber in the ALDS (2017), and a grand slam in the 2019 ALDS, all highlight what he meant to the Bombers and his best clutch moments. Didi has been a fan-favorite for years, but ultimately, baseball is a business, and spending far too much on a shortstop who the Yankees see as replaceable, doesn’t make much sense.

How will the New York Yankees replace Didi Gregorius?

Gleyber Torres is your answer. This season, the Yankees were able to inject Torress into the shortstop position to give him some much-needed experience will Gregorius recovering from Tommy John. That experience will now pay off, as DJ LeMahieu can slide into his preferred second-base position while Torres takes over at short.

Torres’ natural position is short, which is why this move makes too much sense. While the youngster’s offense is impeccable, his defense at the position needs a bit of work. His 11 errors over 77 games are unacceptable, but it’s part of his progression in the infield.

What the infield could look like in 2020:

First base: Luke Voit

Second base: DJ LeMahieu

Shortstop: Gleyber Torres

Third base: Gio Urshela

Catcher: Gary Sanchez

This is a solid group of infielders. However, Urshela and Voit scare me. Two combined seasons of decent play doesn’t scream efficiency. If they cannot replicate their production, the Yankees will suffer a reality they did not expect. Bringing in some capable reserves should be a priority.

New York Yankees: Are the Yankees pushing Gregorius out or do they want a fresh start?

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New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

The New York Yankees had until 5:00 PM on Monday to extend a qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius in which they failed to do so, official sending Gregorius off to free agency. The remaining question is: are the Yankees getting rid of their Jeter replacement or do they want a fresh contract?

When Gregorius was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Gleyber Torres took over the shortstop role, in which he proved he can handle with ease. I think the Yankees saw what they can accomplish without Gregorius and maybe realized he isn’t a need.

Emotionally, this would be awful. Gregorius plays such a big part in the clubhouse and has a huge impact at Yankee Stadium. His social media presence is warming to the fans and he just knows how to rally a team. However, if the Yankees let him walk I wouldn’t be surprised.

I think the New York Yankees know that Torres is the future shortstop of the franchise. In two seasons in the major leagues, Torres is a two-time All-Star two 20+ home run seasons and hasn’t batted below .270. Also, don’t forget he’s only 22, and he’s only going to get better from here.

If the Yankees really wanted Gregorius back on the roster for the 2020 season, they would’ve extended a qualifying offer. It doesn’t make sense to let a guy enter free agency to hear other team’s offers if you want him back for the next season.

However, I could be very wrong. The Yankees might just want to sign him to a fresh contract, one that makes more sense for them in the long run.

New York Yankees: 3 players to replace Didi Gregorius at shortstop

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New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

If New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius isn’t re-signed this offseason, finding his replacement could be difficult. Gregorius is an average hitter with an above-average glove .979 fielding percentage last season coming off a significant injury. In 2018, he committed just six errors over 132 games with a .987 fielding percentage.

The Yankees shortstop is a quality option, and his lefty pull at the plate is dangerous during home games featuring the short right porch. However, Didi wasn’t the same this past season, hitting .238 over 82 games and 324 at-bats. This was the lowest he has hit since 2014. A decline in offensive production could give general manager Brian Cashman the green light to explore other options.

Here are three shortstops the New York Yankees could look into:

1.) Jose Iglesias

The former Detroit Tiger shortstop played one season with the Reds this season, hitting .288 with 11 homers. He’s not much of a slugger, which could be a turnoff for the Yankees, but he’s a high contact hitter that struck out far less than Gregorius in comparison.

Iglesias struck out 70 times last season compared to Didi’s 53, but he also played in 64 more games. Also, his defense statistics were phenomenal, as he was the best in that category for the Reds last season. Many were baffled that his name was on the Gold Glove finalist award. Iglesias is an equal defender to Didi if not better, which makes him an even more appealing option for Cashman.

He signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Reds this season, but will likely gain a pretty penny on the open market. He’s a great option if the New York Yankees are willing to make the change.

2.) Elvis Andrus

The 31-year-old Andrus is another reliable target for the Yanks, after hitting .275 over 600 at-bats. His consistent health makes him even more attractive, but he’s been with the Texas Rangers for the entirety of his 11-year career. The Yankees would need to pry him away from his career-team, which could be difficult, but he’s another solid offensive producer that could replicate Gregorius’ stats with ease.

His fielding is on par with Didi’s, so the swap would be near identical. The Yankees shortstop’s home run totals have made him more attractive, considering analytics. His double-digit long balls for four consecutive years has allowed him to make an impact, despite having a low batting average. The days of BA are slowly coming to an end, as run production with homers seems to be the more prevalent statistic.

3.) Gleyber Torres

The Yankees could elect to stay close to home with their next shortstop, and Torres has always been the obvious choice to succeed Gregorius. Having played at second-base last season, Torres is an established player at this point in his young career and has continued to develop.

With DJ LeMahieu on the books for 2020, Torres could slide into the shortstop position, and LeMahieu can play his natural second-base spot. Having played 77 games at SS, Torres didn’t post the best defensive numbers. A .961 fielding percentage and nine errors tell most of the story. He must increase his efficiency to be considered a long-term solution for Gregorius. Still, he’s undoubtedly the most intriguing player to fill the role, especially since he’s already on the books.

 

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone makes another huge batting order mistake

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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres

The New York Yankees and manager Aaron Boone took a different approach to their hitting order on Thursday night, slotting second-baseman Gleyber Torres into the cleanup spot. That move resulted in Torres going 0-for-4 on the night, and striking out in a bases-loaded situation early on in the contest.

Boone has continuously fielded Edwin Encarnacion, who’s parrot has a better chance of making contact with the baseball than he does. The designated hitter finished the night with two strikeouts (0-for-3) and a groundout. Outfielder Cameron Maybin would have been a more suitable option for the DH spot in the scenario that he didn’t replace Brett Gardner.

The ultimate reality of the situation is that the Yankees are down 3-1 in the series against a better team with more proficient pitching. Their starters are too powerful and efficient to bat around, despite the Yankees leaving plenty of men on base and opportunities missed.

To make matters worse for the Yanks, their bullpen has been putrid as well. Adam Ottavino has been torched by Houston, and Chad Green, who has been fantastic, allowed a timely three-run blast to give the Astros a 6-1 lead in the 6th inning.

Going into game five, Boone not only needs to make numerous changes to the batting order, but he needs to lift the emotions of his team. If Houston can win three straight games, the Yankees can surely do it too.

For the Astros, starter Zach Greinke pitched 4.1 innings, allowing just one run and three hits before handing the ball to the bullpen. The Bombers had their chances to strikes, especially in the first inning where they recorded only one run on a bases-loaded scenario with one out.

Who should the New York Yankees switch out in the batting order?

First off, Encarnacion should be benched for eternity. His 1-for-14 cold streak is hurting the team significantly, not to mention fellow slugger, Gary Sanchez’s issues hitting as well. At least Sanchez smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the 6th to give the Yankees a glimmer of home.

Here’s a look at what the lineup could theoretically look like in game five:

1.) DJ LeMahieu

2.) Aaron Judge

3.) Gleyber Torres

4.) Giancarlo Stanton (?) –> Gary Sanchez

5.) Aaron Hicks

6.) Brett Gardner

7.) Cameron Maybin

8.) Didi Gregorius

9.) Gio Urshela

The defense needs to step up:

Aside from the offensive woes, the New York Yankees struggled defensively on Thursday. They allowed four errors, two coming from LeMahieu at first base and two from Gleyber Torres at second, which allowed two runs on separate occasions. Two of the mistakes occurred in the seventh inning, where the Astros recorded a run and put the game out of reach.

They must elevate their defensive quality and prepare to play a clean game in Houston on Friday night.

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone made horrific mistakes in game three batting order

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

So let’s get this straight, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone not only kept the previously 0-for-9 Edwin Encarnacion in the cleanup spot, but he also featured Brett Gardner right in front of him at No. 3. Gardner is 2-for-9 over the last two losses to the Houston Astros and hasn’t made an impact in any significant way.

The fact is, Gardner could barely even play the field as he crashed into the outfield wall trying to make a warning-track catch. His bat was off, his ability to track fly balls was off, and yet Boone elected to stick with the veteran through thick and thin. Was this a strange sentimental start on behalf of Boone?

Alternatively, Boone could have started speed-demon Cameron Maybin in right field and featured him in the batting order, likely moving him down the list and Gleyber Torres up to the three spot. Torres was the only real threat on Tuesday night against Gerrit Cole, who blanked the Yanks over seven innings despite several concerning innings that nearly resulted in run production.

The Bombers weren’t able to claw away at the Astros and their stellar starting pitchers, though, as Severino allowed two runs early on to dig the Yankees into a hole. The offensive power the New York Yankees featured during the Twins completely turned off due to opposing pitching, but there’s still hope on the horizon.

Based on the struggles of individual players, here’s a revised New York Yankees batting order for game four:

1.) DJ LeMahieu

2.) Aaron Judge

3.) Gleyber Torres

4.) Gary Sanchez

5.) Aaron Hicks

6.) Didi Gregorius

7.) Brett Gardner

8.) Cameron Maybin

9.) Gio Urshela

First off, Edwin Encarnacion has to go — 1-for-13 is despicable, and featuring him in the lineup any longer cannot be justified. Plugging Sanchez into the cleanup spot makes logical sense considering his power, despite his struggles. Since benching him is off the table due to his catching abilities, they can move him up just to take Edwin out.

The reality is, the Yankees need to maximize their effectiveness towards the top portion of the lineup, and stacking it through with high-contact hitters makes the most sense. Generally, the Yanks were in a scoring position more frequently when the top of the batting order was at-bat. Aaron Hicks, the outlier, earned two walks on the day and showed stellar patience against Cole.

Moving him up to the fifth spot in the order gives the Yanks a switch-hitting option that can contribute with discipline behind Sanchez. Also, Brett Gardner has got to GO. His lack of contact is continuous, and his frustration/emotion has taken its toll on his confidence. Unfortunately, the Yanks simply don’t have any other options with Giancarlo Stanton nursing an injured quad.

Putting Maybin in is a necessity for game three.

The New York Yankees solved their biggest problem

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New York Yankees, Didi Gregorius

Before the New York Yankees faced off against the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, the primary concern was their starting pitching rotation. The unit consisted of Janes Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and Luis Severino.

Both Paxton and Tanaka were inconsistent during the regular season, but Moose caught fire towards the end of the campaign. Tanaka remained luke-warm but has been stellar during the postseason, allowing just one run over two games. His performance against the Houston Astros was not only strategic but rather magisterial by manager, Aaron Boone.

What has been the New York Yankees’ biggest weakness?

The Bronx Bomber’s biggest weakness was undoubtedly their starting pitching. For a majority of the regular season, the starting unit had above a 4.00 ERA. The postseason has been different, but the concerns still lie dormant beyond the void. In game two against Houston, Paxton will be the featured option. If he can replicate Tanaka’s performances the Yankees, they could theoretically play their first home game with a significant advantage.

How important is game two?

With the Yankees blanking Houston 7-0 on Saturday night, the confidence boost and psychological advantage will be significant moving forward. Second baseman Gleyber Torres was stellar in all facets of the game, showing off his athleticism and plate discipline against Zach Greinke. The youth stats for the Yankees displayed their influence, which was exactly what the Bombers needed in their first game of the series against the Astros.

The infield seems concrete, as they turned multiple double plays. First baseman DJ LeMahieu was terrific in game one, picking numerous balls out of the dirt and helping Tanaka get out of minor jams.

The defense for the Yankees isn’t the problem, though; in fact, the pitching doesn’t seem to be either. If the rotation can continue to perform and the bullpen is adequately managed, the Yanks can dominate the series against the Astors,