MLB

Yankees finally move Gleyber Torres off shortstop in infield reshuffle

The free-falling Yankees are remaking their infield on the fly with less than three weeks left in the regular season, finally moving Gleyber Torres over to second base from shortstop.

“Try to take a little pressure off him,’’ Boone said of the switch to second for Torres, who has been awful lately at short. “We’ll give that a look.”

With Torres at second — at least for the time being — DJ LeMahieu will see more time at third base after recovering from a triceps injury, allowing him to make the longer throw. And while Tyler Wade started at short on Monday against the Twins in The Bronx, Boone added Gio Urshela would get more time at short for the time being.

Torres wasn’t tested at second base in Monday’s 6-5, 10-inning comeback win over the Twins, but he scored the winning run on Gary Sanchez’s base hit after being the free runner to open the bottom of the 10th.

Yankees Gleyber Torres second base
Gleyber Torres reacts after committing an error during the second inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Mets on Sept. 12, 2021. Robert Sabo

Boone said he talked to Torres earlier in the season about considering it and when he revisited the topic Monday, the manager said Torres was “ready to go.”

Boone is also looking for something — anything — to turn his team around — after losing eight of nine and seeing it fall out of a playoff spot.

“I hope it gives us the best look and gives us a spark,’’ Boone said.

That’s true of Torres, as well.

“The past week he’s struggled out there and it’s definitely weighed on him,’’ Boone said of Torres’ subpar play on defense. “I think sometimes [his struggles] become such a story, one play becomes a narrative for a long time and at time, it’s been really unfair. There have been large chunks [of time] when he’s had really steady play.”

The timing of the move is perhaps not ideal, since Andrew Velazquez was just sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Sunday’s starter, Clarke Schmidt.

Urshela has looked shaky in the field since coming back from a hand injury. He entered Monday’s game at short when Wade was removed for a pinch hitter in the eighth.

Velazquez can only be recalled in fewer than 10 days after being sent down if someone is placed on the IL.

“The hope and expectation is he’ll be back,’’ Boone said of Velazquez. “We feel equipped as a team to deal with the moving parts.”

Torres’ woes have derailed a once-promising career.

After hitting 38 homers while playing primarily second base in 2019, Torres has seen his production at the plate and effectiveness in the field deteriorate.

Torres hadn’t played second base since 2019, but after four errors in seven games — not to mention another misplay that was ruled a hit — it was clear something needed to be done.

“He was playing a little tentative and not to make mistakes,’’ Boone said.

And Boone added he would likely stick with the defensive configuration for a while.

“It’s definitely something I’m considering,’’ Boone said. “We’ll see how it looks. We’re doing everything we can to win games.”

To do that, they’ll need more from Torres.

“He’s such a dynamic player for us when he’s going well,” Boone said. “The switch might be something that really gets him going.”