Tigers sign Gleyber Torres

9:03 a.m.: It’s a one-year, $15 million deal, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reports. Torres is expected to be Detroit’s primary second baseman.

8:44 a.m.: The Tigers and free agent infielder Gleyber Torres have agreed on a contract, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Torres is represented by Octagon.

Torres, who turned 28 earlier this month, has spent his entire major league career wearing Yankees pinstripes. The once-touted top prospect looked like a breakout star in 2019 when he hit 38 home runs in just 144 games, but Torres ultimately established himself as a solid starter at second base rather than the superstar shortstop he appeared to be starting out as Year ’19. Since that standout 2019 season — which came during MLB’s juiced-ball season — Torres has slashed .261/.332/.411. That’s about 9% higher than average as measured by WRC+ (which impacts the home park and league run-scoring environment in a given season).

The 2024 season was shaping up to be Torres’ worst performance of her career at the halfway point. In his first 80 games, he hit a powerless .215/.294/.333 (81 wRC+) with a 23.9% strikeout rate, well above the 19.3% mark he posted in the had achieved in the previous five seasons. However, Torres righted the ship in late June, rebounding to hit .298/.365/.421 with a much-improved 17.3% strikeout rate down the stretch.

Torres enters a Detroit infield lacking any real security. Colt Keith will likely slide to third base as Torres is reportedly expected to play second base. Keith, who hit .285/.330/.429 in 445 plate appearances after a terrible start to his rookie season, appears to be one of two infield locks alongside Torres. There has been some speculation about Keith playing first base, but he has yet to appear in a professional game at the position.

Javier Baez is signed for three more seasons at $24 million per year, but he has played his way out of a starting position and will be a release candidate at some point if he can’t at least somewhat recover (although the Tigers have suggested this winter that they do it anyway). see a role for Baez in ’25). Former top pick Spencer Torkelson hit 32 home runs in 2023 but faltered through an ugly 2024 season and has yet to establish himself as a viable starter in the big leagues. Trey Sweeney showed a big league-ready glove at shortstop, but didn’t hit in the second half in 36 big league games in last year’s debut. Top view Jace Jung He drew plenty of walks (16%) in 94 plate appearances at the end of last season, but is likely slated for Triple-A work or (speculatively) a stint in left field. Matt Vierling could also play a role at hot corner, although he can also play in the outfield.

More will follow.