BREAK: Yankees perfect Trade Replacement of superstar key man
Saying the New York Yankees are thriving as we head into the heart of the MLB season in June is an understatement. Their starting rotation is robust, boasting a 2.76 ERA, which ranks second in MLB, and ace Gerrit Cole is set to return from an arm injury that has sidelined him since March. Although the bullpen could use some reinforcement, the relievers have still managed an impressive combined ERA of 2.86 (second in MLB) and a WHIP of 1.14 (third).
The lineup is also strong, leading MLB with a collective OPS of .768 and ranking second with 93 home runs.
However, there is a weakness in the lineup, particularly on the right side of the infield, where Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres have underperformed. While finding a new first baseman might be straightforward if the Yankees decide to replace Rizzo, securing a second baseman is more complex.
One potential candidate to replace Torres is Luis Rengifo of the Angels, who could be a valuable addition. According to Bleacher Report MLB podcaster Borna Nazari, “What about Luis Rengifo? He is playing like an All-Star. He comes with club control through the end of 2025.” With the Angels likely to be sellers at the trade deadline in eight weeks, Rengifo could be a strategic acquisition for the Yankees.
Gleyber Torres Replaced by Luis Rengifo = ‘Perfect’?
Luis Rengifo, 27, is in his seventh season with the Angels and is currently having his best year, with a slash line of .327/.374/.469. Although there are concerns about a potential regression to the mean, Rengifo has proven himself a solid hitter over the past two seasons, batting .264 both years and hitting 17 homers in 2022 and 16 in 2023.
Rengifo could be a viable alternative to Gleyber Torres for the Yankees. On a B/R livestream, Borna Nazari suggested, “The Angels could send Rengifo to the Yankees if they like that move. It would be a great fit for the Yankees. Where would Rengifo play? If you’re tired of Gleyber Torres, who is hitting .238 with an OPS of .650, Rengifo is an ideal replacement.”
Adding Rengifo to an already potent Yankees lineup would further enhance their offensive strength. Nazari emphasized, “The Yankees’ offense is loaded. By replacing Torres with Rengifo, it becomes even more formidable.”
Yankees Could Risk Messing With a Good Thing
As the Yankees approach the trade deadline, a key question looms: Does it make sense to replace Gleyber Torres, or would it be unwise to disrupt a highly productive lineup over a second baseman who primarily hits in the No. 7 spot and has had a slow start?
Fox Sports MLB writer Deesha Thosar discussed the idea of overhauling the Rizzo-Torres portion of the infield but expressed reservations. “Gleyber Torres had a better May than he did April, and he’s been serviceable since coming out of that early-season slump, but he still sports an 81 OPS+ and has been embroiled in trade rumors throughout his Yankees tenure,” she wrote. However, Torres has hits in 12 of his last 13 games, batting .289 over that span.
Thosar noted, “There is an argument to be made that the Yankees lineup, one of the best units in the majors, doesn’t need retooling in case it messes up their good flow.”