ARBITRATION SHOWDOWN! IS GLEYBER TORRES WORTH WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR?

Tough break for Gleyber Torres, actually you could argue tough BREAKS for Torres. His future with the Yankees has been very unclear for a while now and now it just got more uncertain.

The Yankees and Torres failed to come to a salary agreement before Friday's deadline. Torres filed for $10.2 million for 2023 and the Yankees countered at $9.7 million. It's hard to imagine the Yankees blink at a difference of $500,000 but they did and now we all get to debate about if that was wise or a giant waste of time.

There's still time and both sides could come to an agreement before the end of the month, so maybe we won't even have to think about a future battle for $500k but if not - does Torres have a good case to get what he wants?

I said Torres has some tough breaks, and he does. The Yankees have some exciting infielders coming up that are making him less relevant on this team. He also hasn't helped his own cause. I don't think he has always exercised the best judgement and I'd say he hasn't given us everything he's got sometimes. That's a dangerous combination when younger and talented are coming up behind you.

So, when you aren't performing at your best and could be phased out that's a bad spot to be in. For the New York Yankees $500k is spare change, but in any business, you want to spend your money wisely. When you look at his time in pinstripes, he had a great first season but has underachieved since then. He didn't pan out at shortstop, and he's had some moments of greatness, but has he done enough to earn over $10 million next year?

I have to say in this case.... I understand why the Yankees would like to avoid paying him at his asking price. I just don't think he's earned that. I know some may not agree and I know it is a small amount of money for the Yankees to swallow.... but at the end of the day this is a business.

So honestly, pennies aside settle this thing before it goes to arbitration and get it done for $9.9 million and work towards trading him at some point this season. At the end of the day, he's an expensive piece on the roster that has reached his expiration date. No hard feelings.... but it's time.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj