Fansided

3 players the Yankees can trade before Opening Day

By Tim Boyle

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #12 of the New York Yankees fields a ground out by Amed Rosario #1 of the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in game two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 14, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #12 of the New York Yankees fields a ground out by Amed Rosario #1 of the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in game two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 14, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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New York Yankees, Gleyber Torres
Trading Gleyber Torres before Opening Day can give the New York Yankees a bigger improvement somewhere else. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

2) Why the Yankees need to consider trading Gleyber Torres

Gleyber Torres is a much more exciting player than Kiner-Falefa simply because of the offense he has put on display in the past. His monstrous 2019 campaign was likely aided by the juiced baseballs. He hasn’t been quite the same since, but did have a more productive 2022 season than he did in 2021 when he hit more like a 1960s second baseman than a present day slugger.

Torres should have much more value around the league than Kiner-Falefa. A superior hitter and someone who can play second base or third base as well as fill in at shortstop when needed, he’s the kind of player teams should be knocking on the door to inquire about.

The Yankees have an obvious replacement at second base for Torres if he was traded. DJ LeMahieu has spent much of his time in New York roving around the infield. It’s a good weapon to have. But with so many questions in the outfield, how much does it really help?

Trading Torres for an upgrade in left field would be the greatest thing the Yankees could do. Landing a guy with the ability to play some center field would be the most ideal situation.

The Chicago White Sox once made sense for this kind of deal. In some ways, they still do. Elvis Andrus was re-signed to be their starting second baseman. Torres would be the upgrade. The only players on their roster worth acquiring would be Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, or Andrew Vaughn. There probably isn’t a straight one-for-one swap but if each team added in a second player, maybe something gets done. The time for that trade may have, unfortunately, already passed by. Turning their attention back to Bryan Reynolds would be the next step to take.

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