Gleyber Torres Needs Tommy John Surgery
A lot of things have gone right for the Yankees this year. This is not one of those things.
Yankees announce Gleyber Torres needs Tommy John surgery on his left elbow
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 19, 2017
The Yankees top prospect was running a 144 wRC+ as a 20-year-old in Triple-A, and was being groomed to replace Chase Headley as the team’s third baseman (who has an 86 wRc+) in the not-too-distant future. He also would have provided depth at the middle infield spots, and given the team another dynamic young player for the stretch run.
The UCL isn’t as important for hitters as it is for pitchers, but even while this injury is to his non-throwing arm, this will still knock Torres out for the remainder of the 2017 season. The Yankees press release notes that he’s expected to be ready for the start of spring training next year.
With Torres out of the picture, the Yankees are probably going to have to turn to the trade market now if they want to upgrade over Headley for the second half. Which is particularly interesting, because the Red Sox might also be looking for a third baseman over the next six weeks, and with J.J. Hardy on the shelf, it’s possible the Orioles could look for a 3B, with Manny Machado shifting over to shortstop. That would leave three A.L. East teams potentially trying to outbid each other for the same crop of mediocre veteran options.
Regardless of what the Yankees do at third base, this is bad news for Torres, who was on the verge of being a big leaguer. Hopefully he recovers in full and this doesn’t have a detrimental effect on his career, which still looks quite promising.
Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.
So… how does one go about tearing his UCL in the non-throwing elbow?
It was on a headfirst slide into home plate.
Interesting, thanks. I’ve never heard of someone injuring it that way.
Yeah, it was pretty much the AJ Pollock play, except he broke his UCL instead of his elbow.
Bringing up Tyler Wade to play third and platooning Headley and Carter at first base is an option.
From my understanding and E.L.’s report, Wade is more of a utility guy and not an everyday player. Would he be much of an upgrade over Headley? I would like to see them promote Andujar to AAA and see what he can do there.
I think Wade is major league ready at 3rd base. Andujar isn’t and Torres wasn’t before he got injured. Wade may eventually be a utility player, but my guess is Wade and a Headley/Carter platoon would have a good chance to be an upgrade over Headley and Carter. I don’t have any scouting knowledge on Wade myself, but there are some who do rate him more highly than E.L. does.
I think it’s possible that Wade has the potential to be an everyday SS or 2B. The Yankees already have two guys ahead of him in SS depth (Gregorius and Torres) and 2B depth (Castro and Torres), though. The Yankees are turning him into a super utility guy because 1) The Yankees don’t have room for him on their everyday roster otherwise, 2) current bullpen usage increases the value of such a player, and 3) he can handle it.
His bat probably doesn’t play as an everyday third baseman, but this isn’t about long-term plans, it’s about improving the team mid-season without giving up prospects in the early part of a rebuild process. I would not be so eager to trade prospects to go for a World Series win in 2017 when the Yankees are just now setting up a potential long-term dynasty. The timing is wrong for such a trade.
I think the ideal thing, however, is that Bird comes back healthy and productive and the Yankees keep Headley at third.
I was thinking more of a possible September call up for Angular if he rakes in AAA. Anyway, I think if they can get an upgrade at 1st base they can live with Headley at 3rd. They can’t have 2 black hole rally killers in a row in Carter and Headley.
If his bat doesn’t play long term at 3rd, how much better than a 86 wrc+ is he going to post?
His bat doesn’t play long term because the Yankees currently have the money and farm system to work hard to not have any player being below average for his position going forward.
Also, Headley doesn’t get removed, he gets moved over to first in a platoon with Chris Carter. Carter doesn’t have an 86 wRC+, he has an 81 wRC+. The proper comparison for what I suggested is not Chase Headley against Tyler Wade. It’s Headley and Carter against Wade and a Headley/Carter platoon.
Headley has a 119 wRC+ against RHP and a -1 wRC+ vs LHP this year. Headley’s career wRC+ is 112 vs RHP and 98 vs LHP. Carter has had bad numbers against LHP this year, but in a very small sample size. In all years 2012 through 2016 Carter’s wRC+ vs LHP was higher than vs RHP. His career wRC+ is 115 vs LHP and 108 vs RHP. Plus, Wade is much, much better on the base paths than Carter. And Carter would be a useful pinch hitter as a power threat.
Paging Eduardo Nunez
Do we really need more gifs though?
Gleyber Torres for Kyle Schwarber!
(no, not really, just wanted to make you spit out your coffee)
You jest, but Jeimer Candelario is blocked by Kris Bryant, could be worth a look for one of these teams.
It’s very difficult to see how a Candelario deal makes sense for the Cubs or these other teams.
The Cubs have a very clear need if they’re trading away any well-regarded prospects: starting pitching that can help in 2017 and is controllable beyond 2017. That’s not something available from any of these three teams, nor is it likely to be available from any team that thinks of itself as a 2017 playoff contender.
I also don’t see that Candelario fits very well with the Red Sox or Yankees, because neither seems likely to be interested in a long-term solution for 3B. The Red Sox have Devers, and the Yankees will still have Torres due back next year.
Zack Cozart in pinstripes?
Didn’t Albert Pujols have TJS early in his career?
No, he received nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow (his throwing arm and back arm when swinging) instead of TJS
Yeah, the funny bone nerve; I had to have the same procedure done after falling down a flight of stairs. The nerve slipped from one side of my elbow to the other. Super painful.
Miguel Sano had TJS after tearing his UCL after throwing from third to first.
As a Yankees fan, the fact someone may trade for Todd Frazier is a bit more sickening than Gleybar getting injured.
Rest up, Torres.
David Freese, based on need/fit/history of trades between teams, makes a hell of a lot of sense for the Yankees.
Who would Pittsburgh trot out there? Frazier and/or Harrison (both getting time in the OF/2b/3b)? Moroff?
That sounds like it, Frazier moving back to IF when Marte comes back.
I honestly think if you’re looking at players like Frazier than Chase Headly will be adequate. I mean are the two really that different in value? ZIPs has Frazier putting up 1.3 WAR ROS and Chase Headly 1.0 He’s not good but there seems little point in giving up someone to get a player near his range of value. Which all the rumored third basemen seem to be.
This is where the Pads ship Solarte back to N.Y. for a mid prospect. The Kemp trade and the Turner trade make me want to vomit but I bet the Yanks would love to take back the Solarte for Headley deal right about now. Btw, shout out to A.J. Hinch for making that deal as interim gm after Hoyer bailed one year into his deal with SD to ride Theo’s coat tails.
the Yankees have no real great need to replace Headley this season. they have more than sufficient offense
Considering the options out there, agreed. Headley really had a great April (143 wRC+), a truly AWFUL May (15 wRC+), and an ok June (101 wRC+). The last 3 weeks (since May 29th), he’s put up a 105 wRC+. I think the Yanx would be pleased to get the June version of Headley the rest of the way: something like a 90-100 wRC+ with solid defense.