Gleyber Torres signs with AL Central team as Yankees departure becomes official

The New York Yankees have officially turned the page on the Baby Bomber era, with one of the most promising players of yesteryear departing in free agency after a rollercoaster tenure. Gleyber Torres is no longer the Yankees' starting second baseman.

As expected, Torres left in free agency, and it was reported Friday morning that he signed with the Detroit Tigers. Torres was previously garnering interest from the Washington Nationals, but reportedly turned down an offer from them because he did not want to play third base (per the team's request).

Torres leaves behind a very complicated legacy in New York, where he burst onto the scene in 2018 and 2019. He blasted 62 home runs across those two seasons, but then fell off a cliff and was never the same.

From 2020-2024, Torres hit just 76 homers and never really improved defensively. It didn't help that the Yankees called him out publicly for arriving to 2020 summer camp out of shape and then dangled him in trade rumors multiple times, which clearly affected his play.

Though Torres was a solid player and had some memorable clutch moments, his mental lapses and defensive gaffes frustrated fans more than anything. His hot and cold offensive streaks rarely ever aligned with the team's needs, either.

Yankees News: Gleyber Torres signs with Tigers in free agency

As of right now, the deal between Torres and the Tigers is pending a physical. It's a one-year, $15 million contract.

Before the agreement with Detroit, the Nationals, Angels and Blue Jays were among the teams chasing Torres. Still only 28 years old, the infielder has plenty of runway ahead of him, with an opportunity to rewrite the last five years on an upstart Detroit team filled with promising young talent.

The Tigers made a special postseason run in 2024 after making an incredible comeback starting in mid-August against ... the Yankees. Their walk-off win on Sunday Night Baseball in the Little League Classic fueled their surge into the Wild Card picture.

Torres, after turning down the Nationals' offer, figures to slot in at second base for the Tigers, who now have an infield logjam with Colt Keith currently the starter. Andy Ibanez, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Jace Jung, Matt Vierling and Javy Baez are among the other infielders on the active roster.

Yankees fans certainly wished the Torres era ended on a better note, but they'll be wishing him well in Detroit as he looks to rebuild his value for next year's free agency.