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Brian Cashman’s latest comments on Gleyber Torres really aren’t great

By Thomas Carannante

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees reacts after committing an error against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 17, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees reacts after committing an error against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 17, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Gleyber Torres was out of shape in 2020.

If there’s any sort of doghouse within the New York Yankees organization, it feels like Gleyber Torres is firmly in it, solely based on the comments from general manager Brian Cashman ever since the 2020 season ended.

When speaking with the media not too long after the Yankees were ousted from the playoffs at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, Cashman would not commit to Torres as the team’s starting shortstop of the future, and not even really for 2021!

Did the 60-game sample size really put that much of a sour taste in the front office’s mouth? It was Torres’ first full season at the position and it was barely over 1/3 of a real full season. Maybe the Yankees have a grand plan in mind that we don’t know about. Maybe they’re trying to divert things in free agency/on the trade market.

Or maybe Cashman is just plain unhappy.

Here’s what the Yankees GM said Thursday night during an appearance on the YES Network’s “Yankees Hot Stove”:

"“(Torres) wasn’t in the best shape to start the second spring training. On his return from the shutdown, we spent a little bit … first half of the season playing catchup, maybe in the first 40 or 45 games of the season playing catchup. Once we got him back online and in shape, we saw, towards the last 20 games including the playoffs, the Gleyber Torres we’re used to seeing.”"

As for his defensive capabilities?

"“He’s more than capable of playing short, but I acknowledge he is a better second baseman than a shortstop.”"

Goodness.

So what does this mean for DJ LeMahieu? Or the future of Torres? If the Yankees don’t bring back LeMahieu, will they move Torres back to second base and look for a high-profile shortstop? What happens if they re-sign LeMahieu? Are they going to trade Torres? Jeff Passan alluded to that this week.

All in all, we have no idea, but we certainly don’t like what we’re hearing from Cashman in regards to the 23-year-old.

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