Gleyber Torres’s whereabouts on Opening Day next season is still anyone’s guess. The 26-year-old second baseman is entering unfamiliar territory as a free agent for the first time in his career. The decision ahead will shape the course of his baseball future. Since being acquired by the Yankees in 2016 as the trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs, Torres has experienced both highs and lows in the Bronx. 

Despite some strong moments during the push toward the World Series, Gleyber Torres’ time with the Yankees seems to be at its end. After a rough first half of the 2024 season, the Yankees appear prepared to move on. At last week’s GM meetings in San Antonio, Brian Cashman offered a candid assessment of Torres’ future, acknowledging both the player’s contributions and the uncertainty surrounding his role with the team moving forward.  

Yankees say goodbye to Gleyber Torres? 

Brian Cashman’s words reflected both an appreciation for Torres’ past contributions and an acknowledgment of the challenges he faced in recent years. It was as if Cashman said goodbye. While Torres undoubtedly has talent, the Yankees’ front office seems ready to explore other options for their infield as they seek more consistency. They want a player good at both performance and decision-making. The Yankees might take a shot on Yoán Moncada as a potential third-base option. This could allow them to move Jazz Chisholm back to second, where he’s more comfortable and effective.   

However, there’s a chance that Moncada could prove to be an expensive risk. He’s a bench flyer who ultimately gets outshined by younger, cheaper options like Caleb Durbin. Yoán Moncada’s free agency officially kicked off when the White Sox declined his hefty $25 million club option at the end of the 2024 season. Instead, they opted to pay him a $5 million buyout. It was a move that made sense, given Moncada’s inconsistent performance over the past few years, though it’s hard to ignore the flashes of brilliance he’s shown, most recently in 2023.  

Injuries slow down Yoán Moncada 

Yoán Moncada was considered brilliant once. When he posted a solid .756 OPS and a 117 OPS+ in a very limited 40 at-bat sample. But those bright spots have been short-lived and overshadowed by injuries. In 2024, he spent most of the season sidelined with a left adductor strain, a strange injury that, somehow, lingered throughout the entire year. The constant trips to the IL have kept Moncada from establishing any sustained success. 

That left many to wonder if the 29-year-old will ever regain the potential. He was once one of the game’s high prospects when he first arrived in Chicago. The inconsistency is maddening. Moncada’s 2022 season was a particularly rough stretch with 104 games of underwhelming play. That performance has left a sour taste in both fans and front offices alike.  

This has led many to wonder what kind of player he’ll be going forward. The truth is, Yoán Moncada’s next move could go in any direction. A change of scenery might help him recapture his old promise. At this point, it feels more likely that he’ll remain a “what could have been” player. Someone whose potential is overshadowed by his injury history and inability to stay on the field long enough. But what about Gleyber Torres in the meantime? Do you think the Yankees s