Those hoping for a Gleyber Torres reunion with the New York Yankees received a severe reality check from general manager Brian Cashman on Monday.
Cashman stated during the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings that youngster Caleb Durbin is the current favourite to play second base for the Yankees next season, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Cashman also listed Jorbit Vivas and Oswald Peraza as possibilities who “could surprise” and take the job.
It isn’t difficult to read between the lines here. Cashman did not mention Torres as a potential candidate for next year, implying that the current free agent who became an important part of the Yankees’ lineup in the 2024 postseason is likely to go elsewhere.
Torres’ 2024 season was marked by two distinct periods. The two-time All-Star struggled in the first half of the season, hitting just.231 by the end of July. But around that moment, manager Aaron Boone moved him to leadoff, and Torres took off. He hit.306 with a.793 OPS the rest of the season, starting first in 42 of 50 games.
He was even more useful in the playoffs, earning 10 walks and totaling 14 hits as he set the tone for Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who batted after him.
Torres enters free agency after earning $14.2 million in 2024.
Caleb Durbin might have forced his way onto the Yankees roster.
Durbin, an underrated talent, spent the majority of the 2024 season in Triple-A before dominating the Arizona Fall League with 21 stolen bases.
He appeared in 82 games for Scranton in 2024, hitting.287 with 10 home runs and 29 stolen bases. He stole 29 more in the Arizona Fall League, breaking the all-time single-season AFL record. Between 2023 and 2024, he became the AFL’s all-time stolen base leader.
“I think it’s a testament to my preparation and picking my spots,” Durbin told Jim Callis of MLB.com. “I believe that baserunning is much more about reflexes than speed. I think having enough speed helps, and I believe I have enough speed.”
Durbin had a good bat as well, hitting.312 with a.976 OPS in 24 games. Durbin’s performance impressed a large number of people, including his potential future manager.
“I think he’s a stud, frankly,” Boone remarked. “Excellent bat-to-ball skills, exceptional basestealer, and solid defender at second base. Very competitive, a hard-nosed, tough player. I’m excited about him, and I think he’ll play an important part for us this season.”
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