Nick Torres didn’t spend long in the Yankees’ system, but he did leave with a pretty blunt takeaway about the way the game is played now.
The 32-year-old, who was the 2025 Mexican League MVP and signed with New York this offseason, ended up making his mark in affiliated ball with 40 games for the Double-A Somerset Patriots. It was his first stint in affiliated baseball since the 2018 season in the San Diego Padres’ system.
After that brief run, Torres weighed in on the difference he saw between the old-school style he’d been living in the Mexican League and the newer, analytics-driven approach that has spread through the minors.
“2026 was my first year back with an MLB org since 2018 and Jeff is spot on here. After 6 years of ball in the Mexican League-which is old school, rugged and ALL ABOUT WINNING- the only thing that matters is scoring more runs than the other team. I agree that analytics aren’t …”
The line that drew the most attention came later, when Torres said, “Coming to the Yankees this year after 6 years of playing everyday only to win, I noticed a clear distinction of guys who know how to play the game and play to win vs playing to beat the analytics which evaluate you and get you paid.”
Torres also made clear that he wasn’t trying to take a shot at the Yankees specifically. In his response, he wrote, “I had an awesome experience with the Yankees this year. They’re the only MLB org I’ve been with since 2018 so I can only speak to them specifically, but they have BY FAR the best personnel of any org..”
It’s a pointed view of how the modern game works, and one that pushes the conversation back toward the tension between chasing individual value and building something that wins on the field.
In Other News...
Yankees Have A Surprise Pitching Option As Return Timelines Drag On
The Yankees have a roster puzzle on their hands, and it is growing more complicated as two key pieces work their way back. Rookie right-hander Elmer Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A, opening a path for the club to look at Trevor MacGregor, a non-roster pitcher with no major league experience, as a possible stopgap on the staff.
Aaron Judge and Clarke Schmidt are both expected back soon, but neither is ready to be activated yet because each still has rehab work to complete. New York also does not have an open spot on its 40-man roster, so any return will require a corresponding move, which means the Yankees may need some short-term creativity before the more obvious reinforcements are actually available. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Just Reopened A Giancarlo Stanton Decision That Changes Everything
Giancarlo Stantons rehab has taken another turn, and it keeps the Yankees in a familiar holding pattern. Aaron Boone said Stanton has not been ruled out for the season after the slugger dealt with a right-calf strain, and Stanton has already been back to hitting in practice. For a team that has had to juggle injuries and roster fit all year, the mere possibility of getting him back in the mix is enough to keep the conversation alive.
The catch is that there is still no obvious path for Stanton to return right away. The Yankees do not currently have room on the roster, so any move involving him will have to wait on a combination of injuries and other roster decisions. With Stantons contract and age already prompting questions about what comes next, this latest update does more than answer his short-term health status. It reopens a bigger organizational decision the Yankees did not exactly ask to revisit. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Still Face One Aaron Judge Concern Boone Couldnt Dodge
The Yankees left California with a split on the trip after a 4-3 loss to the Padres, and the focus quickly turned back to Aaron Judge and where his return stands. Judge has been out since May 31 with a stress fracture in his right rib, but he has started taking important steps forward again, including batting practice and defensive work as he ramps back up.
Elmer Rodrguez was optioned to Triple-A to create a roster spot, but the club still has not put a date on Judges comeback. He is expected to face live pitching soon, which is the kind of checkpoint that usually clarifies a recovery timeline, yet the Yankees are still waiting for the final piece before they can say when their captain might rejoin the lineup. [Read more 🡒]