Free agency is underway, and for the New York Yankees, that’s a significant time. They have a few big names entering the market, with Juan Soto at the forefront, alongside other high-cost stars like Clay Holmes and Gleyber Torres.
Interestingly, the Yankees opted not to extend a qualifying offer to Gleyber Torres. Likely, they felt Torres might accept the one-year, $21.05 million offer for 2025, which exceeds what the team is willing to pay him.
The Yankees and Torres have shared a long history, dating back to 2016—or 2018, if you count the start of his rise. This familiarity gives the Yankees a clear understanding of both his strengths and weaknesses. Their reluctance to issue a qualifying offer suggests they’ve set firm boundaries on what they’re willing to invest.
So, where might those limits be? FanGraphs estimates Torres could land a deal worth an $18 million average annual value (AAV), but the Yankees seem unlikely to commit to that.
Losing Torres in the lineup would indeed be a blow, especially given the team’s recent struggles in finding productive leadoff hitters. However, the Yankees may be wary of spending $18 million per year on an infielder with a .708 OPS and a tendency for occasional mental lapses in defense and baserunning.
The team does have internal options that could fill the role Torres might leave behind, with Oswaldo Cabrera, Jon Berti, Oswald Peraza, and Caleb Durbin ready to compete for a spot in spring training.
With Juan Soto expected to command close to $50 million annually and pressing needs at first base and in the bullpen, investing in a multi-year contract at around $20 million per year for Torres may not be the best financial move for the Yankees.
