Yankees: A Novel Idea To Solve The Gleyber Torres Dilemma

The Yankees can hear the clamor in the background from fans who want to see their prized young shortstop-to-be wearing the Pinstripes as a regular in the lineup – yesterday! Brian Cashman says, unequivocally, that ain’t gonna happen. But here’s a novel, though somewhat radical, approach to the dilemma facing the team that could make everyone happy.

The Yankees acquired a blue chip stock when they insisted on Gleyber Torres as part of the package they inherited in the deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs last summer. Since then, Torres has excelled when playing at every level and in every league, the Yankees have assigned to, including an MVP award he earned when playing in the Arizona Fall League. There appears to be no stopping this guy.

Except, that is, by another guy who holds more juice in the organization. Brian Cashman gets paid to make these decisions, and he has earned the trust of Hal Steinbrenner and most fans to make them in the best interests of the organization. So, if Cashman says that Torres in going to begin the season at Double-A Trenton and progress to Triple-A at some point, so be it. Nothing will change that.

Yankees Have A Blue Chip Stock – Double Down!

But here’s the thing. Blue chip stocks cost more money than penny stocks and Torres, at some time in the future is going to cost the Yankees a bundle of money. He has arbitration and free agency ahead of him and, if everything pans out as nearly everyone expects it to, Torres will be driving the Yankees and not the other way around.

The Yankees have a Google on their hands, and they should double down on Gleyber Torres by buying more of his stock.

And don’t believe a word Cashman says if he denies that the reason for keeping Torres in the minor this season is NOT to delay his eligibility for arbitration, and ultimately, free agency.

Digressing for a minute to make a point, what did the initial investors in IBM and Google do when they realized they had a runaway blue chip stock on their hands? They did the wise thing and doubled down on their investment and followed that by purchasing even more. And today – well, you know the rest of the story.

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The Yankees have a Google on their hands, and they should double down on Gleyber Torres by buying more of his stock.

Why shouldn’t the organization offer Torres a long-term contract extension – now! If an agreement can be reached that takes Torres through the first year of his free agency, the chains are loosened, and everyone wins.

Torres earns promotions based on merit and not on some manufactured timetable. And the Yankees remain secure in knowing what their budding star will cost them over the next five or six years.

Nothing in this process will be easy, and the Yankees will be breaking new ground that will not go unnoticed by other teams, MLB, or the Player’s Association. But why shouldn’t they be the vanguard team of the future when it comes to finances. After all, George Steinbrenner was vilified because of his free-spending ways, but eventually, all teams mirrored his practices.

Get The Actuaries Working

And surely, a sophisticated money-making machine like the Yankees can put together a team of actuaries to determine the value of Torres in each of those contract years. The curious thing, though, is that a Google search does not identify an agent’s name who is associated with Torres. This could mean a number of things, but at least we know it’s not Scott Boras.

Big things start with little things. And the spark of an idea is usually what gets the process going. Brian Cashman needs to explore the idea of a contract extension with Torres if only to quiet down the folks in the grandstand who are clamoring to see Torres play under the lights at Yankee Stadium.

Next: Yankees Catcher Has A Permit To Carry A Gun

Nothing ventured, but maybe a whole lot gained.