MLB Players Power Rankings: Top 10 Hitters in Week-21
By Manny Gómez
MLB Players Power Rankings (5): Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees
Week-21 Stats: 0.826 SLG | 0.510 wOBA | 226 wRC+ | 0.5 fWAR
Over the last few seasons, Yankees fans have been down on general manager Brian Cashman’s moves – or lack thereof – at the trade deadline. It’s hard to argue with them considering that the “Evil Empire” hasn’t really made any big moves to brag about.
However, one thing fans of the Yankees can’t argue with is that Cashman has a knack for acquiring MLB-ready top prospects. The best example of this is Gleyber Torres, who Cashman acquired, basically, for free.
In 2016, the Yankees took a chance on Aroldis Chapman, the once highly acclaimed closer for the Cinncinati Reds. After some bad press surfaced about Chapman in that offseason, teams weren’t willing to risk acquiring a closer who was supposed to be suspended to start the 2016 MLB season… except for the Yanks.
Cashman and the Yankees gambled on Chapman and it paid off. By the trade deadline, the Chicago Cubs were in need of a closer if they were to break their World Series drought and out of desperation, they traded Gleyber Torres to the Yankees for Chapman.
Later that fall, Chapman helped the Cubs win the World Series and then promptly signed with the Yankees again in the offseason.
Now, the Yanks have one of the best infielders in the game in Torres and closer Aroldis Chapman. This season, Torres has proven just how important that move was back in 2016. In 120 games this season, Torres already has 32 home runs and is posting a phenomenal .900 OPS.
As for Chapman, he leads MLB in saves with 35