The Gleyber Torres era is officially over for the New York Yankees, as the second baseman has agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. This news, reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, marks the end of a significant chapter for the Yankees, as Torres had been a key figure in their lineup since his debut in 2016.
While Torres had previously expressed a desire to remain with the Yankees for the duration of his career, it became increasingly clear that the team was not fully committed to bringing him back. Given the affordable terms of his new contract with the Tigers, which are well below what the Yankees could have offered, it seems the Yankees were never truly willing to retain him, despite his desire to stay in the Bronx.
With Torres now out of the picture, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will need to look elsewhere to fill the void in both the lineup and the infield. One potential replacement is Brandon Lowe, a second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Lowe has been a consistent power hitter for the Rays, with three seasons of 21 or more home runs.
However, his recent injury history has limited him to fewer than 110 games in each of the past two seasons, which might raise some concerns about his durability. Despite these injury issues, Lowe has maintained a solid .794 OPS over his last 1,742 plate appearances, making him a strong candidate to contribute to the Yankees’ offense.
In a hypothetical trade proposal from Sporting News’ Jackson Roberts, the Yankees could acquire Lowe by sending right-handed pitcher Ben Hess and infielder Jorbit Vivas to the Rays. Both Hess and Vivas are considered top-20 prospects in the Yankees’ system, with Hess ranking eighth and Vivas 17th according to MLB.com. This trade would allow the Yankees to secure Lowe’s power bat while also providing the Rays with promising young talent to build for the future.
From a financial perspective, this trade would not be a heavy burden for the Yankees. Lowe’s contract, which originally covered six years for $24 million, ended after the 2024 season, but the Rays exercised his $10.5 million option for 2025. Furthermore, Lowe has an $11.5 million club option for the 2026 season before he becomes a free agent. This structure allows the Yankees to add him to their roster without committing to a long-term deal, making the trade financially feasible.
In conclusion, the departure of Gleyber Torres represents a significant shift for the Yankees, but it also opens the door for potential upgrades to their roster. Brandon Lowe could be an ideal candidate to replace Torres at second base, offering power and on-base ability while still being financially manageable for the Yankees. Whether or not the trade comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it is clear that Cashman has options as he looks to reshape the Yankees for the future.