Winter Meetings notes: Yankees ready to ‘baptize’ Torres
By Sam Dykstra/MiLB.com
NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland — The Yankees got an extended look at №. 2 prospect Gleyber Torres during the Arizona Fall League, and like everyone else, they liked what they saw.
The 19-year-old shortstop was named MVP after leading the circuit with a .403 average, a .513 on-base percentage and a 1.158 OPS. He collected eight extra-base hits (including three homers) and four steals over 18 games for Scottsdale — all from the youngest player in the Fall League this year and the talented circuit’s youngest-ever MVP.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who acquired Torres from the Cubs in last July’s deadline deal for Aroldis Chapman, walked away impressed.
“He just had an exceptional Fall League,” Cashman said from the Winter Meetings. “Tough kid. He performs. It was just another platform, at a very young age compared to his peers, that he excelled. So he just continues to go out there and make a name for himself. But other than that, he’s going to start at (Double-A) Trenton and get baptized in the cold weather of the Eastern League in April. That’ll be the next challenge.”
That last bit isn’t entirely breaking news, given recent news that Torres would begin 2017 with the Thunder, but it’s worth noting Cashman’s language about the cold weather in the Eastern League, perhaps setting up an explanation for any possible struggles the Venezuela native might have after playing in the Carolina and Florida State Leagues this past summer. A right-handed hitter, Torres hit .254/.341/.385 with two homers and two steals over 31 games for Class A Advanced Tampa following the trade. He will turn 20 on Dec. 13 and will likely be one of the youngest, if not the youngest, players at the Double-A level come spring.
Cashman also noted the organization’s decision to lean on youngsters in right field and first base is preventing the need to chase big-time offensive free agents such as Edwin Encarnacion. Cashman reiterated that №. 4 prospect Aaron Judge will compete with Aaron Hicks for the right-field gig, while 25-year-old Tyler Austin will battle 24-year-old Greg Bird (Torres’ AFL teammate) at first. Multiple outlets have reported the club is close to signing Matt Holliday to a one-year, $13 million deal to be the designated hitter, but Cashman couldn’t confirm the deal until it becomes official.
