The New York Yankees’ search for a middle infielder to replace two-time All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres has become one of the most prolonged storylines of this MLB offseason. Torres, who signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Detroit Tigers after leaving in free agency, departed without the Yankees making an offer to retain him. Surprisingly, the team appears to have no immediate plan to fill his crucial role in the middle infield.
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The Yankees have been connected to several free-agent targets, ranging from high-profile names like Alex Bregman to lesser-known players such as Ha-Seong Kim. However, the latest speculation suggests that the team might capitalize on a brewing conflict between a rising star infielder and his current team, acquiring a player statistically similar—and in some ways superior—to Torres at just 20% of the cost.
Alexander Wils
on, founder of Empire Sports Media, recently highlighted a “fractured relationship” between the St. Louis Cardinals and their 28-year-old second baseman Brendan Donovan. A seventh-round draft pick in 2018, Donovan debuted in 2022, immediately making an impact by winning a National League Gold Glove and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting.
While Donovan hasn’t won another Gold Glove since his debut season, advanced metrics from Fangraphs indicate significant defensive improvement. In 2022, Donovan’s “Outs Above Average” was -2 over 264 1/3 innings at second base. By 2024, that number improved to +5 over 421 1/3 innings. Offensively, Donovan outperformed Torres in 2024, with a 3.2 WAR compared to Torres’ 1.7 over nearly identical game totals. Despite this, Donovan’s projected salary of $3.3 million remains significantly lower than the $15 million Torres will earn.
Dispute Over $450,000
The tension between Donovan and the Cardinals stems from a disagreement during his first arbitration-eligible offseason. Donovan requested $3.3 million, while the Cardinals countered with $2.85 million, leading to an unresolved $450,000 gap. This small but contentious dispute could impact Donovan’s future in St. Louis, as arbitration battles often strain player-team relationships.
Wilson suggests that the Yankees, by waiting patiently, could leverage this situation to acquire Donovan, securing a cost-controlled second baseman through 2028. This would provide both a long-term solution and a potential postseason difference-maker.
“Donovan represents the kind of championship-caliber addition that could make the difference in October,” Wilson wrote, emphasizing the importance of timing in making the deal.
While some might argue for immediate action, Wilson advises the Yankees to let the drama between Donovan and the Cardinals unfold before making their move. Such patience could turn a solid offseason into a transformative one for the Bronx Bombers.
