BREAKING NEWS: Yankees’ $31 Million Infield Get Replaced at MLB
The New York Yankees are performing well with a 42-19 record as of June 3, leading the Baltimore Orioles by three games in the American League East. However, rumors are circulating as the trade deadline approaches in less than two months. General Manager Brian Cashman might consider upgrades, potentially replacing second baseman Gleyber Torres and first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Jim Bowden from The Athletic highlighted this possibility, noting the underperformance of the Yankees’ right-side infield. He mentioned, “If their production doesn’t improve, the Yankees will likely focus on upgrading that area through trades.”
Despite strong offensive contributions from sluggers like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, manager Aaron Boone expected more from Torres and Rizzo. Torres has a .230/.308/.324 slash line with four home runs, 16 RBIs, and 26 runs scored over 251 plate appearances. Rizzo’s stats are slightly better, with a .240/.301/.360 line, seven homers, 25 RBIs, and 28 runs scored from 246 plate appearances.
Combined, Torres and Rizzo are earning $31.2 million in 2024, with Torres making $14.2 million and Rizzo $17 million, according to Spotrac.
Rizzo & Torres Have Plenty Left to Play for in 2024
With the New York Yankees solidly positioned for postseason contention as one of baseball’s top teams, both Rizzo and Torres have significant stakes in the 2024 season, considering their individual contract situations.
Rizzo is currently in the second year of a two-year, $40 million deal. Additionally, the Yankees have a $17 million club option for him in 2025. However, his 2023 season was plagued by a concussion early on, limiting him to 99 games and impacting his performance with a .706 OPS, 12 home runs, and 41 RBIs in 421 plate appearances. Coupled with a slow start to 2024, the likelihood of the club exercising his option appears uncertain.
For Torres, he’s approaching free agency this winter, marking his final year under team control. Despite being a consistent contributor since his 2018 debut, his standout performance came in 2023, boasting a .273/.347/.453 slash line with 25 homers, 28 doubles, 68 RBIs, and 90 runs scored across 672 plate appearances.
A downturn in performance just before entering free agency may not drastically impact Torres’ market, especially considering he’ll only turn 28 in December. Nonetheless, failing to meet expectations could affect negotiations once he engages with interested teams.
Yankees Rumors Have Been Circulating Them for a While
With the New York Yankees carrying a payroll exceeding $300 million this season, team owner Hal Steinbrenner has expressed concerns about the sustainability of such high spending levels. He emphasized this on May 22, noting that the current payroll levels are not financially viable for the team, especially considering the luxury tax obligations.
While the intention to rein in payroll isn’t intended to hinder the Yankees’ pursuit of Juan Soto in the future, it will impact other players. Rizzo may face being released due to his anticipated 2025 salary and underwhelming performance. Surprisingly, even Pete Alonso of the crosstown rival New York Mets is being considered as a trade-deadline replacement.
Despite Torres expressing his desire to remain with the Yankees long-term, a report from Bob Klapisch of NJ.com on May 23 suggests otherwise. Klapisch indicated that it’s increasingly likely Torres won’t return next season, given his impending free agency. Instead, the Yankees seem poised to rely on the emerging talents from their farm system who are currently thriving.