Gleyber Torres Has Something Say To The Yankees

Gleyber Torres looks right at home in his Detroit Tigers uniform, and honestly, it’s about time he got the respect he deserves. As a longtime supporter of Torres, I couldn’t be happier that he’s thriving in Detroit. Now that he’s had time to process the Yankees kicking him to the curb, he’s not mincing words about how he was treated—and he shouldn’t. Let’s not pretend he wasn’t treated like a disposable asset by the Yankees near the end of his tenure.

People love to nitpick about hustle or defensive miscues, but let’s be real—Torres was held to a completely different standard than others. Remember when Robinson Cano used to get flak for not running out ground balls? The Yankees still desperately wanted to keep him but simply couldn’t match Seattle’s jaw-dropping 10-year, $240 million offer. Their counter? A weak 10-year, $170 million deal—around the same annual salary they were giving Jeter, just to keep the captain happy. Losing Cano ended up being a blessing, as his career tanked, but the point remains: when the Yankees want to keep a guy, they find a way. With Torres, they didn’t even bother.

And let’s not forget—Torres was no scrub. He was once the Yankees’ top prospect and ranked second in all of baseball, trailing only Shohei Ohtani. And when it mattered most, he stepped up. In the 2024 postseason, he hit .241 with 14 hits, two homers, eight RBIs, and 10 runs across 14 games. His .348 on-base percentage was better than plenty of his so-called superstar teammates. But when the time came for the Yankees to show some loyalty, they tossed him aside like yesterday’s leftovers.

Now, in Detroit, Torres is thriving and happy. He’s respected, valued, and—most importantly—wanted. A.J. Hinch has made it clear that Torres is a key piece for the Tigers, and the difference in atmosphere is night and day. Torres isn’t shy about his bitterness toward New York, and honestly, good for him.

During a recent spring training game, he sent a clear message after launching his first home run at Joker Marchant Stadium: “I feel I deserve to be with an organization that wants me. I’m here now, and that’s the reason I’m here.” And when asked if he believed the Yankees wanted him, he didn’t hold back: “I don’t know. Maybe you can ask [Brian] Cashman.”

The Yankees had every opportunity to make Torres feel like part of their future, but instead, they shoved him out the door. Now, I hope he absolutely torches the league in a Tigers uniform. 

I personally want him to make the Yankees regret every second of their decision. Let him be the one that got away. No matter what, Torres will always be my guy.