The New York Yankees have been in free fall over the past few games. Losers of eight of their last nine contests, the team clearly needs something to change. They need a spark, something that will help them shake off their current malaise.
The hope is that a position change could do the trick. Gleyber Torres is moving from short to second, a change that could remain in place if everything works according to plan.
Boone said he moved Gleyber Torres to 2B in order to “take some pressure off him.” It could be more than a one-day thing, he said.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) September 13, 2021
New York Yankees moving Gleyber Torres to second base
With Torres moving to second, the rest of the Yankees infield will be on the move as well. Gio Urshela will take over at short, with DJ LeMahieu handling the hot corner. The same pieces are still there, but they are being shifted around.
There had been some speculation for a while that Torres could be moved from short. His defense has been questionable at best throughout his career, especially this season. He has cost the Yankees seven runs at short while making 18 errors, four of which have occurred over the past week.
This does not mean that Torres will be the answer defensively at second either. He has made 174 appearances at the position in his career, costing the Yankees four runs. Torres also has not appeared at second since 2019, making his return to the position a bit more interesting.
The Yankees clearly needed to do something. It is entirely possible that the pressure is getting to Torres, explaining his utterly disastrous week defensively. Maybe that shift to second will make a difference, allowing him to clear his head a bit and to relax. Otherwise, moving the Yankees infield around defensively will be the same as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
The New York Yankees are moving Gleyber Torres to second base. Maybe this move, and the subsequent changes, will light a spark.