3 Yankees playing for their jobs heading into the 2023 season

Gleyber Torres

Torres is currently slotted in as the Yankees starting second baseman, but that could change sooner than later. The two-time All-Star performed terrible from 2020-2021 and then ruined his productive 2022 campaign with one of the worst August performances you'll ever see because he was shaken by trade rumors.

As mentioned earlier, the ascensions of Volpe, Peraza and Cabrera are notable, and probably threaten Torres the most since all three of those prospects play the middle infield.

Going back to those trade rumors, Torres was reportedly dangled at last year's deadline and then again this offseason. His bat has regressed considerably in more ways than one. You might look at his 2022 numbers and be content with his 24 HR, 76 RBI and 114 OPS+, but even with identical HR and RBI numbers from his rookie season, Torres saw his average dip 14 points, OBP dip 30 points and slugging percentage dip 29 points. He was dismal with runners in scoring position (.236 AVG., .698 OPS) and RISP with two outs (.209 AVG., .567 OPS). The number totals don't tell the entire story.

Throw in the hustle concerns, his poor body language, and the fact there have been a couple of feuds with the front office, and Torres may not have the longest of leashes as we approach the trade deadline, especially if the aforementioned prospect trio makes an impact.

He has one more year of club control after 2023, but look for the Yankees to save that $12-$13 million by inserting one of their more promising middle infield options.