logo
Free Agent Profile: Gleyber Torres could provide the Blue Jays some much need power at second base
alt
Photo credit: © Vincent Carchietta - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Nov 4, 2024, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 29, 2024, 00:38 EST
Comments
A player who recently made it to the World Series with the New York Yankees is now a free agent.
No, this Free Agent Profile won’t look at Juan Soto, but instead, we’ll look at second baseman Gleyber Torres. Originally signed by the Chicago Cubs during the 2013 International Free Agency period, Torres was sent to the Yankees as the headliner in a package for Aroldis Chapman before the 2016 trade deadline. That trade also featured future Blue Jay, Billy McKinney, who was later traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for J.A. Happ.
Torres, who was a top 25 prospect at the time of the trade, went on to become a fixture in the middle of the lineup for the Yankees.

Gleyber Torres’ stats

Overall, the 2024 season wasn’t a particularly great one for the Venezuelan middle infielder, as he slashed .257/.330/.378 with 15 home runs in 665 plate appearances. It’s worth noting that once the Yankees moved him back to the lead-off spot in mid-August, he finished the season slashing .314/.386/.455 with five home runs in 176 plate appearances, paired with a good postseason performance.
It was by no means a career year for the 27-year-old though, as that came in 2019 when he hit 38 home runs and slashed .278/.337/.535 in 604 plate appearances for a 125 wRC+ and a 3.4 fWAR. For his career, Torres is slashing .265/.334/.441 with 138 home runs in 3,673 plate appearances for a 113 wRC+ and a 15.8 fWAR.
Defensively, Torres has played both second base and shortstop in his career but has been the team’s starting second baseman for the past three years. In 2024, Torres had -11 Defensive Runs Saved -7 Outs Above Average in 1342.2 innings at the keystone. For his career, he has -14 DRS and – 24 OAA in 5313.1 innings but had a 9 DRS season back in 2022.

Gleyber Torres’ contract outlook

According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, Torres is expected to earn a four-year, $44 million deal which equates to $11 million a season. Moreover, Bowden notes that the Blue Jays, along with the Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Miami Marlins are the best fit for the 27-year-old.
Bowden’s prediction is below what Spotrac has his market value, which comes in at $7 million. Comparable contracts are Brandon Drury’s two-year, $17 million deal, David Fletcher’s five-year, $26 million deal, and Nice Hoerner’s three-year, $35 million deal. In fact, Bowden also listed the latter as a comparable.

Is Gleyber Torres a fit for the Blue Jays

Sort of?
The Blue Jays love their second baseman and have seven players on their active 40-man roster capable of playing the keystone. However, aside from Will Wagner and Davis Schneider, those player’s primary position isn’t second base.
Not just that, but aside from Spencer Horwitz and Orelvis Martínez (who is unproven), it’s hard to argue any of the player’s bats are better than Torres. After all, the Venezuelan is a four-time 20-home run hitter and has proven he can perform in the postseason.
So while acquiring a second baseman like Torres isn’t really a need given the depth of Blue Jays second basemen, he’d easily be their best player at the keystone given his experience and power.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Editorials

Breaking News