7 days ago
All-Star Gleyber Torres proves things can be better away from the Yankees
All-Star Gleyber Torres proves things can be better away from the Yankees originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When Gleyber Torres left the Yankees and landed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Tigers, it didn't exactly look like a free agency win. It looked like a fallback. But midway through the 2025 season, it looks more like a career reset — and a savvy one at that.
Torres is headed to the All-Star Game as Detroit's starting second baseman, anchoring the infield for a team that's been baseball's biggest surprise and arguably best team. His first half numbers are eye-popping: a 130 OPS+, steady defense, and a calm confidence that's thrived far from the Bronx spotlight.
As The Athletic's Jayson Stark put it in his midseason report: 'Sometimes, the smartest thing a player can do is market himself outside of the New York glare.'
Torres' bet on himself is turning into a clear win.
Said one American League executive to Stark, 'Gleyber has made himself the most money, right? Gleyber bet on himself with the one-year deal. And if he does this again in the second half, he's going to get paid.'
Meanwhile, back in New York, the Yankees also have an All-Star second baseman. But it didn't come without drama. They had to designate DJ LeMahieu for assignment just to get Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second — the spot he was expected to play all along.
For Torres, though, the story is simple: he got out, he got hot, and now he's about to get paid. Free agency 2.0 might be the windfall that last winter wasn't. And no one's questioning his value anymore. They are especially not questioning it in Detroit and they are reconsidering in the Bronx.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
