Tigers impending free agent is poised for a huge contract

Second baseman Gleyber Torres gambled on himself when he signed a one-year, $15M contract with the Detroit Tigers during the 2024-25 offseason.

Torres disappointed offensively in 2024, posting a .257/.330/.378 batting line with 15 homers and 26 doubles in his 665 plate appearances for the Yankees. However, he thrived when manager Aaron Boone inserted him into the leadoff spot in the middle of August. Torres ended the season by posting a .313/.386/.454 batting line over 184 plate appearances, hitting five homers and eight doubles.

His hot hitting has continued as Torres may be in the midst of a career year. He has posted a .272/.385/.409 batting line in 205 plate appearances entering Tuesday, hitting five homers and eight doubles. He has walked more than he has struck out - 29 walks to 23 strikeouts — while posting a career-best 90.4 mph average exit velocity.

Torres' batting metrics not only support his strong start to the season but also indicate that his numbers could improve. He has a .301/.413/.557 expected batting line this season befitting a Statcast page that is awash in red. Likewise, his .290 batting average on balls in play is 11 points below his career average; better luck with the batted ball could improve Torres' performance even more.

The Tigers have been one of the biggest surprises in the majors, building off of a late season surge in 2024 to roar out to the best record in the majors. Shrewd signings, such as Torres, have made a drastic difference. In Torres' case, both his personal and team success could lead to a significant payday when he re-enters free agency this offseason. His gamble is set to pay off handsomely.