Infielder Gleyber Torres has officially signed a one-year $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, as confirmed by the team on Friday. This new contract marks a slight increase from his prior salary of $14.2 million with the New York Yankees. The deal also includes a $500,000 one-time assignment bonus.
Tigers president of baseball operations, Scott Harris, expressed enthusiasm about securing Torres, indicating that he was intensely engaged in negotiations over the holiday season. “We feel like we got better today. We feel like adding Gleyber made us better, and we feel like he’s going to make the players around him a lot better,” he mentioned.
At 28, Torres has spent the last seven years with the Yankees after being traded from the Chicago Cubs in 2016. Throughout his career, he has maintained a .774 OPS while showcasing versatility by playing both shortstop and second base. In Detroit, he is expected to take over as the second baseman, allowing Colt Keith to transition to first base. Harris expressed confidence in Keith, stating, “He may move back to second base in the future, but for 2025, our best team has Gleyber at second base and Colt at first base.”
Torres, who was the Yankees’ shortstop during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, struggled defensively in 2021, committing 18 errors. Despite that setback, he has shown significant power, hitting 49 home runs over the last two seasons combined, but his performance dipped last year when he managed only 15 homers.
The Tigers organization remains optimistic about Torres’s potential for growth on both offense and defense. Harris emphasized that Torres chose to “bet on himself,” opting for the shorter deal despite having opportunities for longer contracts elsewhere. This reflects a belief in his ability to improve, both for his own career and the benefit of the team.
Detroit continues to adapt its roster strategically as young talent climbs to the majors, having also secured pitcher Alex Cobb this offseason. The Tigers are keeping their future options open, especially with players like Spencer Torkelson, who could have opportunities at first base or designated hitter depending on his performance.
In a roster move associated with Torres’s signing, left-hander Bailey Horn was designated for assignment.
This addition of Torres represents a promising move for the Tigers, who are looking to strengthen their infield and enhance their competitiveness in the league. The club’s approach to nurturing talent while simultaneously bringing in experienced players like Torres shows a balanced strategy moving forward.
Overall, the signing of Gleyber Torres could be a pivotal step for the Tigers as they aim to build a more formidable team in the upcoming seasons. With the potential for Torres to reclaim and elevate his performance, both players and fans alike can look forward to an exciting baseball season ahead.