Mariners could capitalize on Yankees all but confirming departure of second baseman

It's fine, Brian Cashman. Everyone knows you are saying it without saying it. The New York Yankees general manager, just like every other team, has fully moved on to the MLB offseason. Cashman's recent comments surrounding his team should pique the Seattle Mariners' interest, a club desperate for offense.

Cashman basically told the media that the Bronx Bombers are not planning on bringing Gleyber Torres back for 2025 after spending seven seasons in New York. While the Yankees are clearing as much payroll space as possible for Juan Soto, this can create an opportunity for Seattle to pounce on the veteran infielder.

Mariners Rumors: Should Seattle pursue Gleyber Torres in free agency?

The Mariners have moved on from Jorge Polanco at second base, but they are not looking for just any player to fill the vacancy. Seattle had a poor 2024 season offensively, and Jerry Dipoto's main goal this winter revolves around bolstering the struggled lineup. Essentially, every position has a job opening in the Mariners' infield, including second base. Seattle is weighing all options on who to pursue, but Torres might have just soared to the top of the list.

Some teams may back away from offering Torres a long-term deal because, although he's a two-time All-Star with four 20-plus home run seasons, he hasn't quite lived up to the hype that he received at a young age. He had a world of promise, especially with his bat, but Torres was ultimately unable to live up to the expectation. He struck out too much in the Bronx, left too many runners on base, or didn't play the cleanest second base in the American League. This type of player could have a hard time earning a lucrative contract offer outside of the team they developed with due to the overlying unknown of how he will produce in a different ballpark.

This is perfect for the Mariners, or for any team seriously considering Torres. He's taken his lumps over the last several years at the plate and in the media, which can help remove any team not interested in him beyond the surface level. Now, with a just a few contending teams vying for Torres, his deal potentially wouldn't be as expensive.

In 2024, Torres saw a sizable dip in home runs, stolen bases and OPS compared to his 2023 campaign. He somewhat made up for it in the playoffs, however, reaching base 24 times in 14 games as one of the few reliable bats in the struggling Yankee lineup.

Maybe the Torres of yesteryear isn't completely gone.

Is this enough to persuade the Mariners to take a chance on Gleyber Torres? There are plenty of worse options out there, but maybe a move to another team can help Torres play a bit more consistently. He wouldn't cost the Mariners top dollar, leaving more room for Dipoto and Co. to fill out a winning club.