From One-Year Flier to Free Agency’s Top Second Baseman

Gleyber Torres came into Detroit as a proven hitter with something to prove. The Tigers bet that would push him into a solid rebound season, getting out of New York and the pressure of playing for the Yankees. 

Detroit and Torres have won big on that bet. 

Torres has been Detroit’s most consistent offensive force, their tone-setter at the top of the lineup, and, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, their most valuable pending free agent. He’s also about to become the top second baseman on the free-agent market.

Look around the field.

 Luis Arraez is elite at making contact, but he doesn’t bring power or defense. Jorge Polanco has battled injuries. Brandon Lowe, who is injury-prone as well, and Ozzie Albies are option-dependent, and their teams might never let them reach free agency. The rest of the class? Utility pieces, not cornerstones. Torres is the one everyday second baseman entering his prime, with the production to match.

His numbers in Detroit aren’t empty calories. He owns a 111 OPS+, has been worth 2+ WAR, and leads the Tigers with a .360 on-base percentage. Statcast backs it up: Torres is in the 98th percentile in chase rate, the 90th or better in expected stats and walk rate. He’s controlling the strike zone in a way that’s contagious. 

Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris said it best: “Gleyber sets the tone for our lineup every night. His at-bat quality has become contagious on this team.”

That’s why Bowden’s right. Torres isn’t just Detroit’s most valuable free agent, but he’s also the second baseman  everyone else will want come winter. 

And that’s why the Tigers can’t afford to play it coy. 

Torres' defense may not be All-Star caliber, but his bat is. He is still just 28 years old, heading into his prime, who can anchor the top of a lineup by rolling the dice in free agency. 

The Tigers should re-sign him before someone else does.

For the first time in a while, the Tigers have real momentum. The surest way to kill it would be letting their table setter walk.