Gleyber Torres giving Yankees fans false hope ahead of playoffs would be devastating

Gleyber Torres is … back? Maybe? In danger of seeing his OPS dip below .700 on Sept. 7, the New York Yankees second baseman has since gone 6-for-25 with three home runs, seven RBI and four walks. It’s not anything groundbreaking, but it’s been a week’s worth of Not Whatever He Was Doing since Aug. 1. Positive development.

In the end, and rightfully so, many fans won’t deem Torres’ 2022 production “enough” to truly elevate a World Series contender. His play since the start of 2020 has been average at best, and he’s witnessed a decline in all facets. It’s been frustrating.

But nothing would be more frustrating than Torres, at this point in the season, providing fans false hope for a turnaround back to his first-half form, only for him to come crashing back down to earth when the postseason arrives.

Truth be told, many don’t envision Torres on this roster in 2023 because of the up-and-coming middle infield prospects that provide more promise, but we can safely assume Torres will be gone as soon as general manager Brian Cashman is allowed to make it happen if the slugger manages to disappoint in grand fashion yet again.

There’s nothing standing in his way this time. He has his position of preference. He’s not being trashed by his GM. He’s not distracted by trade rumors now that the deadline has long passed. And with the Yankees on the mend health-wise, he should be getting more opportunities to shine.

Gleyber Torres giving Yankees fans false hope would be devastating

With Oswald Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera making a positive impression at the MLB level and Anthony Volpe tearing up Triple-A, it feels Torres will need a godly postseason to survive in New York beyond this season — but somehow there’s still an opportunity for him to make his last three seasons even more unforgivable, if he were to turn it around in mid-to-late September and then throw it all away in October.

Believe it or not, there’s reason to believe he might have a better chance of succeeding in the postseason, too. Despite his awful RISP/high-leverage numbers in 2022, Torres owns a .325/.413/.575 slash line with 14 runs scored, 5 HR, 15 RBI and 4 stolen bases in 22 career playoff games.

There is the problem with his swing, however, which has been evident for years now. It’s been noticeable and almost indescribable at the same time. A lot of the discourse surrounding Gleyber’s 2018 and 2019 stemmed from the juiced ball, as well as two Yankees’ offenses that were well-oiled machines, but we can’t overlook whatever happened to the slugger’s mechanics.

The Yankees have been delivered letdown after letdown over the last five years. Torres waking up after being dormant for six weeks, only to crawl back into his shell on the biggest stage, would be yet another chapter in the book detailing this deflating era of Bomber baseball. And it also would (and should) be the final straw for Torres’ time in the Bronx.

Yankees’ Gleyber Torres is digging his own grave for 2023

New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres is digging his own grave and simply cannot be on the 2023 roster when the time comes.