Around the Empire: Yankees news - 9/14/21

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: If you missed yesterday’s game — possible, given its unusual 2:00 p.m. ET start time — you would have missed a new wrinkle in the Yankees’ defensive alignment. In an effort to “take a little pressure off” Gleyber Torres, who has 18 errors on the season and four in the last week, the Yankees have officially shifted him off shortstop to second base, the position he started his career at. In announcing the move prior to yesterday’s game, Aaron Boone said that he hopes the move will get the two-time All-Star rolling for the final few weeks of the season. Although Tyler Wade got the start yesterday, Gio Urshela will be the team’s primary shortstop for the stretch run, with DJ LeMahieu taking over at the hot corner.

CBS Sports | Mike Axisa: There are just two weeks to go in the season, and several playoff races remain tightly contested. Unfortunately for the Yankees, several games on this list are directly relevant, as the team is in the midst of a tight Wild Card race that contains five teams within three games. From September 24th through September 30th, the Yankees play two straight series against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a stretch of games that could clinch a playoff berth — or end the season. Additionally, the current series between Boston and Seattle and the two between Seattle and Oakland will throw even more wrenches into this chaotic race.

Baseball America: In news that has no effect on the 2021 playoff hunt but will interest anyone looking to the future, Baseball America has released its final in-season Top 100 prospects list. This one is unfortunately behind a paywall, so I cannot provide too many details other than three Yankees farmhands made the list. I can tell you, however, that shortstop Anthony Volpe soared up the list to 22 and fellow middle infielder Oswald Peraza has climbed to 59, leapfrogging super-prospect Jasson Domínguez. If you have an account with Baseball America, this is a very good read.