Tigers' Gleyber Torres takes another shot at Yankees as offseason drama continues

A fresh start with a new team means a fresh look for second baseman Gleyber Torres, who showed up to Detroit Tigers spring training in Lakeland, Fla., sporting a full beard.

Torres first debuted the new look during his introductory press conference with the Tigers after they signed him to a one-year, $15 million free agent deal back in December, and it sounds like the beard will be sticking around beyond the offseason.

“My wife really likes it. My son really likes it,” he said Monday at spring training (via Jason Beck of MLB.com). “First time.”

Up until now, Torres had spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the New York Yankees, where he was subject to the infamous and grossly outdated hair policy. Torres' breakup with the Yankees has been a somewhat messy one, as the club failed to extend him an offer when he hit free agency at the end of last season and then proceeded to publicly rake him through the coals during the offseason for his alleged refusal to change positions last year after the Yankees acquired Jazz Chisholm from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline.

“To be honest, I don’t know what’s going on there,” Torres said (via Beck). “I was believing everything was good, but I think not. I don’t want to give any comments, just turn the page. Whatever they have, they have. I’m just focused on my goals this year to get better and help my team.”

Gleyber Torres turns page on Yankees tenure, excited for 2025 season with Tigers

This was a follow up to his social media response to the Yankees and GM Brian Cashman a couple weeks ago after the slugger caught wind of an interview on the YES Network that called him out for his refusal to swtich positions (and how that upended the Yankees' plans after the deadline). In the end, it was the Yankees' fault for going forth with a plan without speaking with Torres, and then letting Torres make the decision on his own.

Torres did not record a positive Outs Above Average rating in any of his seven seasons with the Yankees, but he is hoping that a strong showing in Detroit can help him regain market value when he hits free agency again next offseason.

In addition to working on his defensive deficiencies, Torres believes he can benefit from the winning mentality the Tigers showed during their late-season run to the ALDS in 2024.

And who knows? Maybe the beard will help him take his game to the next level.

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