The breakup between Gleyber Torres and the New York Yankees wasn’t exactly a clean one, with the second baseman’s former team failing to extend him an offer in free agency and proceeding to rake him through the coals in the media for his alleged inflexibility when approached about a position change last season.
Torres went on to sign a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, and based on how his new manager describes him and his work ethic, it’s hard to believe that the Yankees’ evaluation of Torres as obstinate and unaccommodating was an entirely accurate one.“He’s been really great to talk to and digest a lot of what he’s experienced, both in the regular season and the postseason,” AJ Hinch said of Torres (via Greg Joyce of the New York Post). “He’s been an open book when it’s come to hearing from us on what adjustments he needs to make to be the best version of himself the longest. We’re really happy with his potential and what he can add to our team. I’m looking forward to challenging him to be a really big part of this team and being a fixture in the lineup.”
After a tough walk year with New York in 2024, Torres is betting on himself this season in the hopes that he can cash in on free agency next winter and prove that the Yankees gave up on him too quickly. The Tigers signed Torres to a one-year, prove-it deal, and Hinch seems to believe that he is both highly motivated and extremely coachable.
He wants to be good, he likes winning,” Hinch added. “He wants to continue to get better. He’s asked to be coached and coached hard, and we’re going to do it.”
Don’t forget: the Tigers are betting on Torres, too. Hopefully, it will pay off, and Torres can help lead Detroit on a deep playoff run (while sticking it to the Yankees, of course).
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