CLEVELAND— If Juan Soto had gone oh-for-October, that would not have impacted his free agency. At 20, he already had proven his postseason fortitude as arguably the best hitter on the championship Nationals. At 25, he has demonstrated he can handle all things New York.
And, oh yeah, 25 — Soto turns 26 next week. Thus, he enters free agency as a rarity: an elite player with many prime years ahead. Thus, his floor is half a billion dollars — likely far more than that.
But have you noticed it is not just Soto — every walk-year Yankee has played well this postseason. Front offices nowadays mainly are indifferent to the small sample of a few good weeks, even in October, though that won’t stop representatives from selling it hard and trying perhaps to do an end run toward an overemotional owner.
Still, while Soto was not going to be harmed by a poor October — and so far he is having a very good one (1.012 OPS) — it certainly will not hurt Tim Hill, Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo that they have so far elevated the Yankees chorus this postseason.
Hill, Holmes and Kahnle have been central to a dominating Yankee pen. Hill, after a rough ALCS Game 1, was the stealth MVP of Game 2 with five stabilizing outs in a 6-3 triumph over the Guardians. Holmes has appeared in all six Yankee postseason games and is now up to 14 ²/₃ career playoff innings without yielding a run. Kahnle has faced 17 batters this October and permitted one hit.
Rizzo, who did not play in the Division Series, recovered enough from two fractured fingers to have two terrific ALCS games (3-for-7 with a walk). Rizzo has a $17 million 2025 option with a $6 million buyout.
Verdugo is reminding that when he is fully engaged, he is a strong all-around player — excellent on defense and pesky on offense.
And if anyone is most sprucing their reputation — and perhaps bottom line — from this group, it is Torres. Since going into the leadoff spot Aug. 16, he has soared: .313 average with an .840 OPS and tied for 28th in the majors in Wins Above Average (Fangraphs) to finish the regular season. Torres has only gotten better in October, having reached in 13 of 30 plate appearances (.433 on-base percentage).
He solved an issue — the Yanks were bottom seven in leadoff batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage before Aug. 16.
Torres said that at the All-Star break, he returned to the hitting facility in Tampa he owns with former teammate Gio Urshela and rededicated himself to using the whole field. When he does — and when he is patient/disciplined — his at-bat quality improves. It is reflected in the difference between his first-half walk (9.5) and strikeout (22.6) percentages and second half: 10.2/17.5. A strong walk rate hitting in front of Soto/Aaron Judge is impressive because no pitcher wants to give a free pass to a batter in front of that feared duo.
So, what does this mean for free agency?
Torres had a part news conference/part therapy session with reporters before ALCS Game 2 when he admitted that trade rumors/free agency might have unsettled him in the first half. Torres clearly loves being a Yankee and sees the strong potential of exiting after this year. He acknowledged beating himself up and “frustration” for the poor way he was playing, which included a lack of on-base hustle that got him pulled from a game.
The upside sales pitch for Torres: He is still young (28 in December) and his career numbers look similar to those of Milwaukee shortstop Willy Adames, who is a year older and expected to be among the most coveted free agents. Torres can hit when using the whole field at a time when hitting is desperately needed. He is well-liked by teammates. He has an .841 career OPS in 37 playoff games.
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The downside: His best years came in 2018-19. He should be a better second baseman with soft hands and a strong arm, but inattentiveness badly degrades the results (though he has been better in the playoffs). He also is a poor base runner. He homered in 5.7 percent of his at-bats his first two seasons, 2.9 since.
I can’t imagine the Yankees putting the $21.05 million qualifying offer on him to try to retain him. The Yanks could shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second or — especially if they spend big to retain Soto — try to keep salary down at second with someone from among Jon Berti, Oswaldo Cabrera, Caleb Durbin and Oswald Peraza.
Torres would be sad to leave New York, but might be best served doing so and beginning fresh elsewhere. But will he have to sign a one-year deal to try to have a full strong season and rebuild his value or is there a good enough multi-year pact available?
He is using the October stage to remind the industry that there is a really good player inside him.
