the Yankees’ infielder, has struggled throughout his contract year, leading to his inclusion on Bleacher Report’s 2024 MLB All-Overpaid Team. Torres, earning $14.2 million this season, has underperformed at the plate and in the field, posting career lows in batting average (.237), slugging percentage (.350), OPS+ (85), and BABIP (.283), along with committing 14 errors at second base. Baseball Savant also notes his defensive struggles, with a -5 outs above average and a -4 run value. Despite the Yankees holding a slim lead in the AL East, thanks to their powerful outfielders, Torres has been a weak link in their lineup.
Torres’ lack of power, with just one home run in his first 33 games, contrasts with his earlier seasons where he hit 24 or more homers in four of his first six seasons. His slow start and ongoing struggles raise questions about his free agency value, which Spotrac projects at $7.1 million per year, a significant drop from earlier estimates. While the free agent market for second basemen is thin, Torres is unlikely to secure the lucrative contract he once anticipated.
Though his performance has been underwhelming, Torres has shown some recent improvement, hitting .280 in August with increased consistency at the plate. Manager Aaron Boone has started batting him leadoff, allowing him to get on base ahead of the team’s heavy hitters. While Torres has been a liability this season, there is still potential for him to turn things around before free agency.
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