The Gleyber Torres era with the New York Yankees has officially come to an end. The second baseman will sign a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, the New York Post reports.
It’s a smart move for the Tigers, who are taking a limited bet on an infielder who could give some pop to their offense and help elevate them to the top of the American League Central in 2025.
For Torres, the one-year deal is far from ideal, but it gives him a chance to prove he’s worth a longer-term contract that’ll take him into his thirties.
Gleyber’s Highs and Lows With the Yankees
The Yankees acquired Torres from the Chicago Cubs in a trade for closer Aroldis Chapman in 2016, which was a mini-rebuild year for the team.
Torres — alongside Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and other homegrown talent — was expected to serve as part of a new core for the Yankees that would propel them to another decade filled with World Series wins.
But not only has a 28th championship been elusive, most of the so-called Baby Bombers have also fizzled out, despite showing phenomenal promise. And even Judge has been a no-show in the playoffs, in spite of his record-breaking regular season feats.
For his part, Torres had a stellar inaugural season in 2018 with the Yankees — hitting .271 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs and coming in third for AL Rookie of the Year. His 2019 season was even better: posting a higher average of .278 with 38 home runs and 90 RBIs. But his performance dipped after these two All-Star years.
Alongside his declining offensive performance, Torres’ defensive woes have become more glaring. Simply put, he is a defensive liability, leading all second-basemen in errors in 2023 and 2024.
His defensive weakness were glaringly evident in the 2024 World Series, including a costly error in Game 1 that paved the way for a Los Angeles Dodgers run.
A Smart Move for the Tigers
This is a stopgap contract for both Torres and Tigers. The 28-year-old has a lot to prove after a dismal walk-off year.
Torres’ bat showed signs of life in the final month of the season, hitting .333 in September, though with only three homers. He’s now auditioning for a longer-term deal in 2026.
To get that deal, Torres will also have to improve his defense or be willing to play elsewhere on the field. He rejected an offer from the Washington Nationals because he did not want to move to third base, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The Tigers smartly took a short-term bet on a potential reclamation project. Outside the New York pressure cooker, Torres could shine once again. If he reverts to old form, he may add power and even average to the Tigers’ lineup.
The Tigers have a strong young core of Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, All-Star outfielder Riley Greene, as well as Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter.
In 2024, they tied for second in the AL Central, finishing 6.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians and losing to them in the ALDS 3 games to 2.
Globely News covers the game changers transforming the worlds of business, sports, politics, and technology. From AI and electric vehicles to the rise of China and the NFL's next stars, we've got you covered.