The New York Yankees have been busy in the offseason, adding former All-Stars to their roster. However, on Friday, they officially lost one of their own in free agency.
Despite a lackluster 2024 season, where Gleyber Torres struggled defensively, the Yankees showed no signs of trying to bring him back. Although Torres had a role as the Yankees’ leadoff hitter during their playoff run, his defensive shortcomings likely led to his departure from the Bronx.
Nevertheless, Torres, who boasts a career OPS+ of 112, still attracted significant interest from around Major League Baseball, as most teams would welcome a second baseman of his caliber.
As reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Torres rejected an offer from the Washington Nationals, reportedly because he didn’t want to shift to third base. This indicated that a decision was imminent, and within 24 hours, Torres agreed to a major-league contract with the Detroit Tigers. The terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
At 27, Torres had a successful seven years with the Yankees but never fully lived up to the potential he showed in his first two seasons, including back-to-back All-Star selections and a 39-homer year in 2019. Now, Torres will look to prove himself in the American League Central.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll accept a third-base assignment with the Tigers or if his stance on that matter is consistent across teams.
For the Tigers, it’s unclear whether this signing affects their pursuit of Alex Bregman, the two-time All-Star third baseman from the Houston Astros. With Colt Keith and Jace Jung already part of the Tigers’ infield, Torres might complete their puzzle.
Though the Yankees will face Torres in the future, they seem confident in their current plans. The only remaining question is whether Torres can bounce back from his 2024 struggles and make the Yankees regret letting him go.
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