As the wait-and-see on Juan Soto continues, Brandon Tierney presented a hypothetical to Sal Licata where Gleyber Torres could be used as extra incentive by ballclubs to lure Soto.
Torres and Soto were considered close friends in their 2024 season together with the Yankees, spending late nights out together in the Bronx as Soto became acclimated with life in his new surroundings. BT wonders if a team like the Mets or Yankees could sign Torres, who is also a free agent, to a short-term deal as incentive for Soto to sign and have a close friend with him in the clubhouse.
“Money is not an issue. I don’t think Soto is gonna make his decision based on what Gleyber Torres does, but if it was another log on the fire,” BT said. “How about we bring Gleyber Torres over for a year or two years, $18-20 million with an opt-out…and Gleyber Torres is your second baseman, [Jeff] McNeil is your third baseman and you put Vientos over at first…”
Sal cut BT off before he could finish, making it clear that he would draw the line there.
“I want no part of it,” Sal said. “If Soto’s decision has anything to do with me as a team getting Gleyber Torres, I want no part of it. I don’t care. I’m trying to build a good baseball team, and Gleyber Torres is not the answer there.
“I’d just say ‘I’d rather not do that, but I’ll give you an extra $15 million on top of it.’”
BT was in agreement if a similar hypothetical was raised by the Yankees, as he is done with Torres in pinstripes.
“They can get him at 13 dollars and 25 cents. I’m done,” BT said. “The Gleyber experience is over.”