The Detroit Tigers’ offseason signing of Gleyber Torres was supposed to be a one-year bridge move—a low-risk, high-upside bet on a player who needed a fresh start. Nine months later, the move stands as one of the most impactful of the 2025 season. Unfortunately for Detroit, it might also be a one-and-done arrangement.
Torres signed a $15 million deal last winter after parting ways with the New York Yankees and has delivered exactly what the Tigers hoped for and more. The 28-year-old second baseman earned the starting nod for the American League in this year’s All-Star Game and has been one of the most consistent hitters in a lineup leading the AL Central.
Through mid-August, Torres is batting .271 with a career-high .368 on-base percentage, 13 home runs, and a 120 OPS+. He has cut down on strikeouts, shown improved plate discipline, and rediscovered the gap-to-gap power that made him a two-time All-Star in New York. For a team that has often struggled to find reliable right-handed pop, his production has been a difference-maker.
That resurgence is exactly why Torres looks ready to cash in this winter—and why the Tigers may not be able to keep him.
Market Value Rising Beyond Detroit’s Comfort Zone
MLB.com says Torres “appears to be a good long-term fit” for the Tigers, but he’s “likely to seek a multiyear contract that probably won’t be cheap.” The scarcity of quality second basemen in this year’s free-agent market only strengthens his case. Add in his defensive versatility—with the ability to slide over to shortstop in a pinch—and he will be one of the most appealing middle-infield options for contenders this offseason.
The Tigers face looming roster decisions, including a potential mega-extension for ace Tarik Skubal. With top infield prospects working their way toward the majors, the front office may decide that spending $80–$100 million on a second baseman doesn’t fit their long-term blueprint.
The Yankees, while a natural team to link to Torres given his history, don’t appear to be a likely suitor. His exit from New York included public criticism from GM Brian Cashman, and the club’s current roster and payroll setup don’t point toward a reunion.
A Crucial Bat in the Present, a Question Mark for the Future
For now, the Tigers will lean heavily on Torres as they push toward October. His right-handed bat lengthens a lineup that has needed balance all year, and his playoff experience could prove vital if Detroit is to make its first deep postseason run in over a decade.
Still, the writing on the wall grows harder to ignore. Unless Detroit unexpectedly dives into the deep end of the free-agent pool this winter, Torres will likely wear a different uniform in 2026.
It’s the kind of good problem every team wants—a short-term gamble that paid off so well the player priced himself out. But it also reminds everyone of the business side of baseball, where even the perfect fit sometimes doesn’t last.
The Tigers found the best version of Gleyber Torres. In a few months, another team might be the one paying for it.
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