The Yankees and Gleyber Torres didn’t exactly have a friendly breakup this winter.
Torres, a two-time All-Star who spent seven seasons at second base for New York, landed with the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $15 million deal after the Yankees showed virtually no interest in bringing him back.
The 28-year-old infielder is still carrying some hard feelings about how things ended in the Bronx. When asked by the New York Post’s Dan Martin if he felt unwanted after his “unceremonious end” with the Yankees, Torres didn’t mince words.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe you can ask him.”
That “him” refers to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who publicly suggested this winter that Torres was unwilling to move to third base when the team acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. That comment seems to have struck a nerve with Torres.
Torres is coming off a down 2024 where he slashed .257/.330/.378 with defensive struggles and baserunning issues. It’s a far cry from his early career promise when he looked like a cornerstone piece for the Yankees’ future.
The timing is interesting. The Yankees are now scrambling at third base after DJ LeMahieu’s injury setback, while Torres settles in as Detroit’s everyday second baseman. What might have been a smooth transition with Torres at third now leaves the Yankees with a significant infield hole.
“I feel I deserve to be with an organization that wants me,” Torres told Martin. “I’m here now and that’s the reason I’m here.”
The Yankees made plenty of splashy moves this offseason, but letting Torres walk might prove costly if they can’t solidify their infield situation before Opening Day. Meanwhile, Torres gets a fresh start and a chance to rebuild his value before potentially testing free agency again next winter.