In the 2025 offseason, the Detroit Tigers made a $15 million free agent signing to bolster their roster. The addition wasn’t cheap, but it was only a one-year deal, with the team unsure of what results it’d bring. But that deal has been one of the best made in the offseason.
Detroit brought in second baseman Gleyber Torres on a one-year deal, and it’s been a massive signing for the team. He’s been a major factor in the Tigers’ hot start and is on pace to be the American League All-Star starting second baseman.
Amid Torres’ incredible start, Bob Nightengale of USA Today shared high praise for the Tigers’ free agent addition. His praise for the move isn’t based just on the on-field production, but what Torres has brought to the clubhouse as well.
“The Detroit Tigers pulled off one of the finest ‘free-agent’ signings of the offseason in second baseman Gleyber Torres (one year, $15 million),” Nightengale writes. “Who should be in Atlanta in two weeks in the All-Star game. He not only is one of their best players, but has become a clubhouse leader.”
Torres, at 28 years old, is having another All-Star caliber season after two such years in New York. While he has a nice history in the MLB, this season in Detroit is further proving how valuable he is in the league.
His presence in the clubhouse has been huge. Torres has helped stabilize a young core coming off their underdog 2024 season. This year, the Tigers are the top dog, and Torres has helped the team get there in the clubhouse. But his on-field impact has been huge too.
In 71 games this season, Torres has 73 hits, 42 runs scored, 13 doubles, nine home runs, 43 RBIs, four stolen bases, 42 walks, and 39 strikeouts. Having more walks than strikeouts is a great sign for any hitter, and it has led Torres to an impressive .388 on-base percentage.
His .827 OPS is among the highest in his career, only being surpassed by his 2019 All-Star campaign, where he earned MVP votes. On the year, Torres is already at 2.2 WAR, on pace to be a new career high.
Between his on-field production and his clubhouse leadership, the Torres signing has been an immense success. It’s no surprise that Nightengale called the signing one of the finest moves of the offseason. So far, Torres’ one-year deal in Detroit has gone incredibly well.
With an All-Star nod in the future and a postseason run likely as well, Torres has a chance to become one of Detroit’s greatest free-agent additions if he continues to perform at the level he has all year.
