Gleyber Torres, the free agent infielder, has signed a one-year contract worth $15 million with the Detroit Tigers, as confirmed by sources to ESPN. The 28-year-old player previously spent seven seasons with the New York Yankees after being traded from the Chicago Cubs in 2016. Throughout his career, Torres has showcased a solid .774 OPS while playing both shortstop and second base, primarily for the Yankees. As he joins the Tigers, he is expected to take on the second base position, a role he has filled for the Yankees over the past four seasons.
Though Torres possesses notable power for a middle infielder, his performance saw a decline in slugging percentage last season, dropping to .378 after two consecutive seasons above .450. Despite hitting a total of 49 home runs in 2022 and 2023, he managed only 15 home runs last year. However, he did shine in the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, maintaining a .364 batting average, which played a pivotal role in the Yankees' advancement to the World Series.
This acquisition could lead to a positional shift for Colt Keith, who was the starting second baseman for the Tigers in 2024. The organization is strategically keeping its roster adaptable as their pool of prospects continues to rise to the major leagues. Additionally, the Tigers have signed pitcher Alex Cobb to a similar one-year, $15 million contract this offseason, leaving only one significant contract on the payroll—shortstop Javier Baez—beyond the 2025 season.
