Gleyber Torres’ surprise surgery could complicate Tigers reunion despite interest

Gleyber Torres signed a one-year, $15 million "prove-it" deal with the Detroit Tigers last offseason – and prove it, he did.

The former New York Yankees second baseman hit .256 with 16 home runs, 85 walks and 101 strikeouts across 145 games in the 2025 regular season. He hit .281 with an .812 OPS in 84 games in the first half en route to a starting nod at the MLB All-Star Game, then .223 with a .659 OPS in 61 games in the second half.

We now know that Torres' slowed production in the latter part of the season was due at least in part to a sports hernia that he suffered at some point during the year that requires surgery.

"I was not really good in the second half," Torres said (via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press). "I was in a lot of pain. We did a really good job of keeping me playing. It wasn't about the numbers. It was about playing every day."

To his credit, Torres did play every day in the postseason, albeit with mixed results. He hit .154 in the AL Wild Card series against the Cleveland Guardians and .286 in the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners.

Gleyber Torres, Tigers have mutual interest in contract extension through 2026

Torres is set to become a free agent in November, but the Tigers could extend the one-year qualifying offer valued at approximately $22 million in an effort to keep him for the 2026 season.

Torres, for his part, is interested in staying with the Tigers. But he also projects to be one of the most coveted second basemen on the free agent market and has aspirations of securing a contract worth upwards of $100 million.

"I haven't talked with my agent yet," Torres said (via Petzold). "Hopefully, we will have a really good conversation here. I feel really good with this group. Since the first day, I felt at home. It was really special this year. Let's see what it's going to be for my future."

Torres' worst month at the plate was in September (while actively playing through the hernia) when he hit .209 with a .631 OPS. The recovery timeline for his surgery is unclear – as is the degree to which his second-half stats have impacted his value in free agency (if at all).

The Tigers have until the fifth day after the World Series ends to extend a qualifying offer to Torres, which they almost certainly will – but whether he will accept feels far less certain. Then again, it's possible the veteran is looking for a multi-year deal. He put forth a solid season in Detroit, but the Tigers just might not be comfortable investing much in somebody about to undergo surgery when they can easily reconfigure the infield with the pieces they have.