Gleyber Torres throws more shade at Yankees and shows appreciation for Tigers

New Detroit Tigers infielder Gleyber Torres is living his best life this spring. He's got a new team, can grow a beard (although his former team, the New York Yankees have since adjusted their longstanding policy on facial hair), and gets to take pot shots at the Bronx Bombers whenever he wants.

“I feel I deserve to be with an organization that wants me. I’m here now and that’s the reason I’m here.”

That latest comment, courtesy of the NY Post (subscription required), is just the latest from Torres regarding his former club — and it's clear there's no love lost between the infielder and the Yankees. Things seemed to escalate last summer when the team acquired Jazz Chisholm and Torres refused to move off second base to accomidate his new teammate. The Yankees didn't like it, made that clear after the fact, and we were off to the races.

After he signed a one-year deal with the Tigers this offseason, Torres has wasted no time taking a stick to New York at every possible instance and Detroit faithful can only hope he's going to channel these emotions into a redemption-fueled comeback season for the ages in 2025.

Last year, Torres graded out as solidly below-average defender at first (hence the Yankees not being thrilled about his unwillingness to change positions) and was more or less a league-average bat (101 OPS+). In other words, his production fell well short of what he was during his back-to-back All-Star seasons of 2018 and 2019, which is exactly what the Tigers are hoping he can return to this year.

Fangraphs is anticipating a bounceback from Torres in Detroit, pegging him for a 3.0 fWAR campaign and 112 wRC+ atop the Tigers batting order. The only Tigers position player projected for a better season? Outfielder Riley Greene, expected for a 4.3 fWAR and impressive 130 wRC+ on the heels of an All-Star selection in 2024.

In a best-case scenario, Torres puts it all together and regains what once made him one of the game's most hyped prospects in his early 20s. On a one-year deal, there's no long-term risk here, unlike if the team had landed Alex Bregman in free agency. Him playing with a chip on his shoulder doesn't feel like the worst thing in the world, despite it landing him in the New York tabloids as he continues to take aim at the Yankees.

One thing's for sure, though: he better back it up on the field when the season starts.