Before signing a one-year, $15-million contract with the Detroit Tigers over the holidays, second baseman Gleyber Torres received interest from several clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays, <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2024/12/29/gleyber-torres-detroit-tigers-deal-100-million-bet-on-himself/77292914007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports</a>.

The San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians also inquired about the former New York Yankees infielder, per Petzold. In addition to that trio, the Boston Red Sox also displayed interest in the 28-year-old earlier this off-season, according to the <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/28/sports/mlb-pitching-rotation-trends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston Globe&#8217;s Alex Speier.</a>
Torres, whose contract includes a $500,000 assignment bonus if he&#8217;s traded in 2025, would&#8217;ve inserted some much-needed power into Toronto&#8217;s lineup. While first-half woes hindered his overall results last season, the right-handed-hitting infielder finished with an encouraging .298/.365/.421 slash line and 126 wRC+ over his final 74 games with the Bronx Bombers.
Additionally, the native of Venezuela hit 24 home runs in 2022, followed by 25 during the following season, posting at least a .450 slugging percentage in each of those campaigns.
Signing Torres, of course, would&#8217;ve been a much more awkward fit following the Blue Jays&#8217; acquisition of fellow second baseman Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians. Given the club&#8217;s needs at other positions, like in the outfield and at DH, management had probably already shifted its focus elsewhere before the two-time All-Star signed in Detroit.
Toronto&#8217;s front office was also likely more interested in securing a controllable player such as Giménez, who&#8217;s signed through 2029, rather than signing Torres &#8212; someone who strictly preferred a one-year, prove-it deal, as Petzold wrote.
If the former Yankee enjoys a strong performance in Motown, he should be able to parlay it into a lucrative contract that could top $100 million next off-season, as he&#8217;d likely be the top available second baseman for a second straight winter.
With shortstop Bo Bichette also slated to hit free agency after next season, perhaps the Blue Jays would have interest in Torres again, considering Giménez could move to short, freeing up second base.

Before signing a one-year, $15-million contract with the Detroit Tigers over the holidays, second baseman Gleyber Torres received interest from several clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays, <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2024/12/29/gleyber-torres-detroit-tigers-deal-100-million-bet-on-himself/77292914007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports</a>.



The San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians also inquired about the former New York Yankees infielder, per Petzold. In addition to that trio, the Boston Red Sox also displayed interest in the 28-year-old earlier this off-season, according to the <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/28/sports/mlb-pitching-rotation-trends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston Globe's Alex Speier.</a>

Torres, whose contract includes a $500,000 assignment bonus if he's traded in 2025, would've inserted some much-needed power into Toronto's lineup. While first-half woes hindered his overall results last season, the right-handed-hitting infielder finished with an encouraging .298/.365/.421 slash line and 126 wRC+ over his final 74 games with the Bronx Bombers.

Additionally, the native of Venezuela hit 24 home runs in 2022, followed by 25 during the following season, posting at least a .450 slugging percentage in each of those campaigns.

Signing Torres, of course, would've been a much more awkward fit following the Blue Jays' acquisition of fellow second baseman Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians. Given the club's needs at other positions, like in the outfield and at DH, management had probably already shifted its focus elsewhere before the two-time All-Star signed in Detroit.

Toronto's front office was also likely more interested in securing a controllable player such as Giménez, who's signed through 2029, rather than signing Torres -- someone who strictly preferred a one-year, prove-it deal, as Petzold wrote.

If the former Yankee enjoys a strong performance in Motown, he should be able to parlay it into a lucrative contract that could top $100 million next off-season, as he'd likely be the top available second baseman for a second straight winter.

With shortstop Bo Bichette also slated to hit free agency after next season, perhaps the Blue Jays would have interest in Torres again, considering Giménez could move to short, freeing up second base.

Blue Jays reportedly expressed ‘strong interest’ in Gleyber Torres earlier this winter

Recent articles from Thomas Hall

Breaking News