5:12 pm: The Yankees were relieved by the MRI results on Torres, according to Boone, who estimates the shortstop could be back within 10-20 days (via Marly Rivera of ESPN). Urshela, though, suffered some form of setback that’ll push back his expected return date for at least a few days (relays Lindsey Adler of the Athletic).
3:15 pm: The Yankees announced they’re placing shortstop Gleyber Torres on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb sprain. Utilityman Andrew Velazquez has been selected to the roster in a corresponding move.
Torres suffered the injury diving into the second base bag during the fourth inning of yesterday’s game against the Mariners. He stayed in for a few frames before being removed for a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth. Torres was sent for an MRI after the game, with manager Aaron Boone acknowledging the team had some concern it was a noteworthy issue. There’s no indication at this point that Torres will have to miss anything beyond the ten day minimum, but the injury is apparently severe enough for the organization to shut him down for the next week-plus.
It comes at an unfortunate time for Torres, who had heated up at the plate over the past couple weeks after a subpar first half. Altogether, the 24-year-old has a .253/.328/.351 mark with six home runs across 407 plate appearances this season. Torres’ power production has largely evaporated over the past couple years, but he’d shown signs of life coming out of the All-Star Break. Torres has popped three home runs and hit .300/.337/.500 over his past 90 plate appearances.
With Torres landing on the IL, the Yankees rather incredibly have twenty players on the injured list at the moment. A few of those players figure to return in the coming days after testing positive for COVID-19, but New York will have to make due for now without lineup regulars such as Torres, Gio Urshela, Gary Sánchez and Anthony Rizzo — as well as key starters Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery. It’s particularly poor fortune for a Yankee club 2.5 games back of the Red Sox for the American League’s final playoff spot.
Torres, Urshela and Tyler Wade are the only players to see action at shortstop for the Yankees this season. It now seems Wade and the switch-hitting Velazquez could cover the position. Velazquez, signed to a minor league deal over the offseason, has a .156/.257/.219 line in 113 big league plate appearances between 2018-20. He’s had a very strong season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, though, slashing .283/.367/.471 while logging significant action at each of shortstop, second and third base.
I remember when I thought Torres was gonna be a stud an Andujar should of won ROTY over Ohtani…… I’m a fool
That Andujar>Ohtani take was hilarious at the time and is just downright mean now lol.
Andujar was a better hitter that year. Also, Ohtani should never had been eligible since he was already a pro in Japan.
Minor leaguers are professionals too
Yep. Andjuar has not been good much at all since, but his first year was stellar. (I still don’t agree that “first-year” = rookie…Ichiro is another example of a guy who was hardly a rookie yet won the award.)
I don’t agree. Ohtani had every right to be eligible for rookie of the year. Her never played American baseball.
Andujar was a six year pro before 2018 though lol
In that case Hideki Matsui should’ve won the 2003 AL ROY too. Kazuhiro Sasaki was 32 when he won in 2000.
It was the Boston writers who voted against him, using the argument he was a “professional from Japan.” Then voted for “fooshball” years later
@JD the ROY award given by the players went to Andujar. Not as hilarious as you wish it was. Or do you know something the players don’t?
It’s just another bad take from Yankee-bashers @ JoeSays. Any time they can use hindsight bias to show we should’ve voted against at a Yankee they will take advantage. Ohtani wasn’t even Ohtani until this year. It’s tiresome.
Anyway, Gleyber injury report looks promising, but he needs to get his bat going. The club is still in the WC picture, but it’ll be a tough stretch. Even tougher if the SPs throw 1-2 run baseball but we can’t even score…
Hal commented that a failure to make the postseason will result in “reimagining the roster.” I have a feeling Gleyber will be reimagined if his performance is this inconsistent come the season’s end.
Did he hang that on his mantle?
Ah yes, because the players have so often shown skill in evaluating talent. Just because they are good at playing the game doesn’t mean they’re good at recognizing it in others.
@1984 yes I’m sure random internet posters know waaay more than any professional baseball players.
Ohtani? Probably …
Torres is still very young and it’s way too early to give up on him despite his offensive struggles the last season plus.
I’ve written about Gleyber before. Nothing’s changed.
He’s not a ML SS. Period. That’s a very difficult position to play – the mental as well as the physical part. When a player is asked to play out of position like that for a team that fancies themselves a contender, it’s no surprise that his offense declines some.
The bigger issue is Cashman and his “We Must Win NOW!” mindset. The result is what they’ve been doing since 2009, never getting close to a WS. They don’t develop their own players at the ML level. The good teams do. Yankees players are put into whatever role is expedient at the time. Consequently, every time a Gleyber, Andujar, Hicks, Frazier etc. gets a little good, Yankees coaches can’t get them to build on that – they regress. Then Cashman takes on salaries of name veterans as he did at the deadline this year. The team never builds cohesion.
Estevan Florial looked so good to me as a CF the past month – they sent him him back down instead of developing him. He’ll be the next player they ruin. I’ll have to look up all the pitchers they’ve messed up.
Yeah.
Look.
What fan base wants to root for a team that is always playing meaningful games in September? Sure is onerous, serious.
& a world championship drought stretching *over* an entire *decade*, too. Golly the horror of it, sam.
Brutal.
Ah, well. Yankee fans will just have to muddle forward somehow. Hell…most (all?) of the Yankee fans (barring myself) on the board are completely uninterested in a Wild Card berth.
Let that level of success settle in…
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Anyway, bro, I have some insight into all professional sports for you: if your GM *doesn’t* have a “We Must Win NOW! mindset” your season probably sucks & why bother watching.
The Yankees didn’t “force” Gleyber to play SS. That was the position he played for the majority of his professional career before his big league debut. He moved to 2B because of Didi but after they signed LeMahieu and Didi got hurt, Gleyber slid back over to SS. You’re just another on a long list of Yankee haters who needs to find a better schtick
Quality organizations put players in positions they can succeed in.
The Yankees put young players in positions to fill a hole.
They have to do this because their payroll is top-heavy with players that aren’t quality all-around ML players. They overpay those guys in free agency or take on their salaries in trade from teams happy to get rid of them. Been going on for decades.
The Mets are now doing the same.
Until the Yankees can develop their own players as winning teams do in order to keep their payroll in line, nothing will change. Of course, they can always fill The Yankee Stadium field with paper – because the Yankees always play well on paper. Mets too.
I’m not denying that Torres is a bad defensive SS. However his move back over there isn’t the reason for his offensive decline. In 2019 Torres moved to SS mid season and played more games there than at 2B and that was his best offensive season to date. Also Stanton is the only position player on the team who makes more than $20 mil. The rest of the lineup consists of either homegrown guys, guys they bought low on and panned out, or recently acquired high profile guys they got through trades. Your assessment of the team is way off
“Quality organizations…” Nice try Sam. I must say, your attempts at veiled insults while trying to appear objective are obvious. Torres came up as a SS. That was his position. Torres can succeed at SS, he just isn’t. They’re giving him his due. I respect that. They can say they gave him a fair shot and it was he that didn’t succeed.
May I ask, do your quality organizations refuse opportunities for players to advance/grow in the field? If so, I’d hate to be in that minor league system.
Gleyber is an excellent athlete and I’ve been more kind than most with the assessment of his ability to play SS. Fact is he hasn’t put it all together. But, he’s still rated above Didi, Xander, Bo Bichette, and Simien defensively (OOA – Statcast), during his 2.5 years at SS. I’m not saying he’s good, but would you classify them as a ML SS? I’m betting, yes.
I’m all in for clinching the AL East in g.160 so Tampa can fume for 2 extra days. Somebody else can fumble around with that WC business.
Hell, yeah.
Is this @Pistol23 from PSA?
Yeah, buddy! Miss ya over there. Surfed in here from one of their links and noticed your handle. Helluva season, ay?
All 5 of those games in CF convinced you on Florial??? 20 abs??
The guy who batted below the Mendoza line in AAA?
Hicks is 31 years old. The Yankees did end up developing him. When he’s on the field—he’s pretty much the same guy every year w somewhat normal deviation.
They developed Aaron Judge. Gio Urshela. Luke Voit. (Who I’m not sure has regressed. Seems like a small sample bias in an injury filled year)
Sanchez never learned how to catch. Maybe he was never going to. Every quality reliever in their pen outside of Chapman was home grown. Lemahieu became a different player in NY on his first contract. Colorado never developed his power but NY found a way to tap into it.
Think what you’re saying is a bit overblown. Andujar and Frazier briefly flashed some talent with the bat….I’ve seen other guys do that. I’ve seen Carlos Correa have some pretty up and down seasons also…. Maybe we don’t toss in the towel on Torres after 1??
Are they the LA Dodgers at pumping guys out? Nope. But you’re vastly skewing the narrative here.
As for pitching…. Who are these big time prospects that NY didn’t develop?
Chance Adams? Dillon Tate? Don’t think they were can’t miss arms…. Loiasiga was on some lists but he always was a huge relief risk because of his slight frame. Same story with Deivi…. he’ll be a reliever too. Kaprelian and Sheffield were dealt away. Severino was the only guy with real TOR upside and he managed to hit that when he’s on the baseball field.
Certainly wouldn’t confuse the Yanks with an org that is great at developing arms but I wouldn’t say that they’ve ruined a ton of young pitchers careers.
Nice.
Swing by again, @Pistol23. Pretty interesting crew.
Well, I had one too many run-ins with that Tyler Norton guy. Mostly because I am an unabashed capitalist pig, or whatever.
Tell the fellas I say, “good hunting” though, please.
Crazy season!
But it’s going to be a really interesting stretch run. 4 teams with legitimate playoff talent slugging it out for 3 spots.
Rather win the East outright myself.
Perhaps a bit of a tall order at the moment. We need to start getting our guys back.
Yesser on that. I always kinda thought our mutual interest were supposed to draw us together, but there’s some self-righteousness..
Well, ya know. They say the fish rots from the head. That, and getting piled on for sayin’ Giancarlo is having a piss poor season because the stat o’ the day says otherwise- all of a sudden you’re looking over your shoulder instead of enjoying a conversation about the National Pastime. Keepin’ my mouth shut was ever one of the 2 or 3 top things the good Lord blessed me with.
Tall order indeed for the AL title. If we can stay afloat for 2 weeks until we have a full team, and the Orioles can exhibit a pulse in one of the 67 games they play with Tampa down the stretch, well we oughta be set up for a wiz-bang fun final 3 days of the season. Toronto scares me a bunch too.
Glad I know where to find ya, and hoping you and yours are well. Enjoy!
Ps. TN was let go in Nov by vox/sb nation.
On a serious note, it’s crazy how divisive things are in the last year. Situations are rarely binary.
A bunch of resources were invested in me at one point in a effort to teach me to adapt & improvise. Thankful for that. Especially in light of how I have always struggled to keep *my* mouth shut.
(Probably a result of pride.)
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I think Yanks’ll be in the postseason.
& I think because we have a True Ace & an incredibly deep pen (gotta get Britton & Chapman right, of course…) if we can get the bats hitting close to the back of their baseball cards, we could go on a run.
Toronto is a good ballclub.
I’m here most Yankee threads. Sometimes on others. After a year, I have a go-to guy for over half the league’s teams. Which is pretty cool.
Same to you in beautiful Maine. Keep building.
See ya when I see ya.
Feel free to give examples of teams that are developing players and never plugging holes where needed.
I don’t follow the Yankees. What’s going on with Torres? His power output has really declined. Has he been dealing with injuries?
Torres was injured last year but had for the most part been healthy this year until now. He seems to be one of the players really affected by the juiced balls being gone
The juiced balls are gone? Could have fooled me, since it seems a bunch of players, no matter their size, are hitting home runs now. I miss the days when there were only a few true power hitters capable of multiple homers, and the others survived by knowing how to actually hit for average.
Yes they’re gone. A lot of players have had their home run output and overall slugging percentage drop this year compared to the last few seasons
That has more to do players trying to hit more homers than the ball being juiced.
Thank you. I always hear this “juiced ball” theory, and have to scratch my head. Check out the new foci of hitting coaches and teams so thrilled with analytics: launch angle, for example, is now a huge thing. I think there are a few realities that have increased home runs (not just the players’ focus, but the fact they are bigger and stronger; additionally, pitchers are throwing harder than ever before, thus providing more pop when the ball actually hits the bat). Maybe the balls were juiced, but there are many other variables that should be considered…that seems to be oversimplifying things.
The balls were definitely juiced,
There is ample proof from players, executives, and analysts that the balls were indeed juiced in the last few years. Choosing not to believe that is denying reality. The juiced balls coupled with analytics telling players to create more launch angle with their swing led to the uptick in home runs. The league stopped using the juiced balls this year and the results are noticeable
steroid use doesn’t bother me much, where the “integrity of the game” is concerned
stealing signs doesn’t bother me much, where the “integrity of the game” is concerned
pitcher foreign substance use doesn’t bother me much, where the “integrity of the game” is concerned
what bothers me much, where the “integrity of the game” is concerned, is MLB office itself jacking with the actual ball repeatedly since ’86.
That’s what strikes me as the closest thing to reprehensibly disgusting in all of this
the league admitted the balls were juiced and even said they were de-juicing them this past offseason
@ 24TheKid, are you on OSFM by the same moniker?
All that Gleyber needs to do is “pushups,” like Arozarana said he did in last offseason when he gained 20 lbs of muscle and started swatting balls out of the park like Stanton. Ya know, push-ups…..
This injury is probably for the best. Hopefully he can get on some sort of upper body strength program. The last two seasons, with a slugging percentage starting with a ‘3’ is absolutely embarrassing. It’s not like his defense is sterling to make up for the lack of power.
Yes. He needs to jack up and gain 15 pounds of muscle in 10 days.
Maybe he’ll figure himself out now, Can’t do anything against a team not named the orioles and is awful at SS , hopefully the Yankees can sign a decent SS this offseason
Corey Seager to the Yankees this off-season makes too much sense, especially now that the Dodgers have Trea Turner.
I agree and it’s why, in my opinion, they want to reset the luxury tax threshold.
Nope he’s actually played short very well this year
No he hasn’t. He has a -9 defensive runs saved and his UZR is 0.4
He is still terrible!
good for Velazquez
Velazquez looks kinda like Girardi in his BBREF picture
LoL I had to go look and tbh you’re correct.
So…is this guy good? I only ask because I thought he was, but he seems pretty lost.
I’ve always been a fan, since his days with the Rays. .283/,367/,471 right now in SWB, with 26/29 stolen bases. He plays everywhere, including SS and CF. And he switch hits. What’s not to like for a utility guy. AND he’s actually a decent fielder wherever you put him; more than passable.
Hope he gets a decent shot.
Alright.
Yanks can get through this. I thoroughly understand that Gleyber is having a pretty rugged ’21.
But he is far better than the alternatives at our current disposal.
Seemed like he was finally starting to come around. But: I’ve thought the same thing half a dozen times this year.
So.
Too bad Paraza or Volpe isn’t quite ready for prime time. It would be a great opportunity for one of them.
Sure would, @Joe.
But it seems they are still just simply too raw. So: Wade, uh?
At least until Urshela gets back.
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What do you think about tossing a bunch of cash at one of the free agent shortstops this winter? Or too early to contemplate?
@Ducky Buckin Fent- I think the shortstop the Yankees would have the most interest in is Trevor Story, even though Cory Seager would be a better fit than Story. My guess is Anthony Rizzo is signed for 4 years, with a club option for a 5th season, instead. I can definitely see Oswald Peraza being ready in a year in a half. Volpe probably won’t be ready for another two in a half years. Seager makes the most sense, so it probably won’t happen, if the Yankees make the playoffs than look for Rizzo to be re-signed, given he comes back healthy. Hope all is well. Lmk
As far as throwing cash at a SS goes, I wouldn’t if Volpe or Peraza is the future. Maybe a stopgap, but definitely not Story et al. Though I’m also ok going with Torres. It’s not like he sucks. He’s gotten better defensively. He’s just having a down year adjusting to the dejuiced ball.
As much as I like Voit, 1B is where I’d spend money. I’d make a reasonable offer to Rizzo and trade Voit.
Seager is the guess as to who the go after this offseason……left handed batt…they can always slide him to 3rd which is what the Dodgers are saying also.
Well, look at this.
We *all* have a different solution.
My guy would be Baez. I know, I know…I can hear you guys already; “another all or nothing RH hitter!?” But: he’s the best glove & the best base runner of the lot. & we are just so damn ugly at those aspects of the game.
Plus, to me, he slides into our IF mix the most seamlessly. In essence you are going from Wade to Baez. Which is a massive upgrade.
The pen is probably set for ’22.
I can see an infielder & a viable backup plan for CF on the winter to-do list. (Barring some kind of major overhaul which I’m betting against…)
As always, Cash’ll probably treat the rotation as an afterthought. But that’s a different topic entirely.
I’m in for Baez too, Ducky. I see the appeal of Seager and I think he’s a very logical solution, but Baez is better in D, he won’t re-sign with the Mutts, and IMO Seager is not a long-term solution at SS given his injury limitations. His bat? Whoa, Seaver can rock the ball…and he’s LH, obviously.
But if Baez can just tone down his swing-and-miss stuff, with his power and D, he’s the one IMO.
As far as the TOR… lots of big arms coming to the market in the next couple offseasons, thus they are available as rentals during the next couple of seasons. I think that’s where Cash goes; right back to wheeling and dealing
Last, what’s the deal with Chappy? He has an unhittable Splitter and doesn’t use it in favor of the slider that gets crushed. WTH?
The exact thing I wouldn’t do is what the Yankees will do. If they’re smart you let Rizzo walk away this off-season. That’s not going to be a good contract. It’ll be another overpay for the age 33-37 seasons. I’m surprised DJ went downhill this fast. Maybe he bounces back. But don’t do it again with Rizzo. Let the man walk.
Baez is one of the MLB leaders with 20 errors this season, yet he has only 94 more total chances than Torres. I would resign Rizzo and deal Voit, Rizzo would save a bunch of errant throws from Torres with his D, kinda reminds me of Tex and Mattingly.
Yeah, ya know @ gruber63, I researched that when looking at Torres’ numbers at SS, and he certainly appears to be struggling there. Then again, if you look at his play at SS over the course of a few seasons, he’s clearly one of the top 5 in defense, and by a pretty wide margin. Sometimes, and I stress that, errors are less indicative of the defensive ability, or lack thereof, and great players become victims of their own mobility – in other words, they get to really really tough plays most don’t even have a chance at (those are hits for them), but miss the tough play, thus incurring an error (whether fielding or throwing the ball).
Huge fan of Baez.
Brings a different skill set too.
If the Yanks miss the postseason, I think we’ll see pretty big changes to this squad. Otherwise…man, it’s a lot like last year. Who do you get rid of?
If it’s a reload, I say upgrade Wade & Gardy. Run the rest back.
Sure would be sweet to see Scherzer or Verlander added to our staff.
Don’t know what is up with Chapman.
@Joe thinks it’s the absence of Sticky Stuff. That split *is* a good pitch. But it’s also a new addition to his repertoire. Perhaps he himself is not comfortable with it in big situations yet.
No idea otherwise. Yanks like to overthink stuff sometimes though.
So there’s that.
Also: I will take a series win. A sweep would be great. But winning the series under these circumstances would be completely acceptable. To me anyway.
Yeah, 100%, Ducky. I think Hal’s statement about “reimagining” the roster if they don’t make the playoffs says it all. He actually looked like he cared about winning – maybe there’s a bit of George there after all…
Man.
Ya know, I think Hal really likes that postseason loot. Every playoff series is worth about 20 mil. That’s pure come-up too. So…hate to say it, but *that* is what I think he cares about, Clip.
How do you know that Baez will hit in NY? Unfortunately he hasn’t played at Yankee stadium but he’s numbers at Citi isn’t impressive thru 24G .244/.295/.585. of course Citi’s dimensions are much different than Yankee stadium. I agree Baez is a good player but might end up like Steve Kemp for example.
Three games against KC should help soften this blow till other players return.
It’s unfortunate that Wade doesn’t hit much but I like his D plus a homegrown. Nelson is back too, seriously I don’t see what the Yanks see in him. Velazquez hasn’t done much in his brief MLB career with TBR, CLE & BAL.
I’m done with Nelson as well. Every time he pitches he gives ups runs. Let’s hope they can produce enough runs to win this series as they wait for some regulars to return.
Feels like the Yankees have more players on the IL than the active roster.
Apparently it’s 20(!) guys.
I think as a Yankee fan, I’ve become immune to players on our squad being out.
That being acknowledged, I don’t think I’ve ever seen 20 guys out before in anything but football. & I’m not sure I’ve even seen it there.
Ah, well.
Nobody going to feel sorry for us. Matter of fact, being the Yanks we can pretty much expect everyone to take their Best Shot at us.
Which is certainly part of the fun of being a Yankee fan. Look how hard the Royals are playing tonight. Ya know?
I’m not feeling sorry. Simply more amazed! 2019 was insane with injuries, but this seems worse. Every day brings a new injury or Covid IL. Was looking at the IL squad, and I’m pretty sure that team would win 90+!
Bullpen sucks
Why bring in Holmes??? He has no closing experience. Should’ve given Ridings a shot instead.
I’ll take it.
Twenty guys on an IL of one kind or another. On the road. 8th straight game. I do get it; not very pretty. No style points tonight.
Whatever.
Nail down the series win tomorrow.
Gotta sweep KC. Total of 4 blown saves by the bullpen in 1 game, disgusting!
“No style points” – Yes… please just keep the lead without giving it up – last night was incredibly trying.
Hasn’t been the same since Beltran left as the video coach.
His 6 homers. Low BA and errors won’t be missed
Yanks been so sloppy these 2 games. Tyler Wade has hit well in a sample sized outing since Torres and Urshela going down. Been on base w/ walks, hits and stealing. Happy with series win vs KC. I noticed that Baez Ks a ton and doesn’t walk much either, Torres walks more and K’s less. I rather see Correa even though he’s a cheater or Semien than Baez. No offense.
Hey Yank fans,how about going after Lindor? If you can stomach paying out 341 million for the next 10 years,I bet you can get him cheap with just a few prospects from the Mets especially with the lousy year he’s had. After all what’s money to New York.