SNY's Andy Martino will be responding to and breaking down answers to Yankees questions from readers. Here's the latest...
Do you think the Yankees trade Urshela or Torres to open up space in the infield? -- @JulianGuilarte1
I don’t think the Yankees will trade Gleyber Torres this winter, in part because his value is way down. But I do think that he’s slipped a long ways from his once-untouchable status.
Remember when Brian Cashman said he couldn’t trade Torres for Jacob deGrom because “I’ve got to walk around this town?”
That was 2018, and Cashman was correct at the time: Torres was the guy with whom you didn’t even consider parting. He was possibly even in the process of taking over from Aaron Judge as the new face of the Baby Bombers.
The reason to hold onto Torres now is different. He’s still young and talented, and might represent more value to the Yankees on the field than as a trade chip.
But if another team wants to ask, Cashman wouldn’t have to respond with the same automatic no. He no longer has to worry about walking the streets of the city because of a Torres deal.
As for Urshela, that could depend on what the team does as shortstop in the post-lockout transaction frenzy. As of this exact moment, the Yankees view Urshela as their primary shortstop.
That will likely change as the roster evolves this spring, but they can’t consider trading him until it does. If the Yanks do sign a Trevor Story or Andrelton Simmons, DJ LeMahieu could play third base and Torres second base. In that circumstance, Urshela could become expendable.