Gleyber Torres, the New York Yankees’ standout second baseman since 2018, decided to leave the Bronx as a free agent during the Christmas holidays, signing a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. Reports indicate that Torres purposefully chose the short-term deal, essentially betting on himself.
“I have a lot of confidence in my abilities,” the 28-year-old Venezuelan infielder shared with the Detroit Free Press. “I always bet on myself. In this process, I aimed to find the right place to play for a year. I had some opportunities with other teams, but Detroit’s young squad feels like a family.”
By having a strong season with the Tigers, Torres aims to secure a long-term contract worth at least $100 million when he re-enters free agency before the 2026 season. This move also leaves open the chance of a return to the Yankees on a more lucrative deal than they would have offered him.
Meanwhile, the Yankees now face the challenge of filling the 15-home run void left at second base, a gap they have yet to address as the offseason heads into 2025, with just 38 days left before Spring Training begins.
Rumors about who will replace Torres have been widespread, ranging from big names like Carlos Correa of the Minnesota Twins (with a $200 million contract) to All-Star Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets, to lesser-known options such as Michael Massey of the Kansas City Royals.
This week, an even more obscure name emerged, one who could match or even exceed Torres’s power at the plate, while costing the Yankees very little in terms of trade assets or payroll. The name may be familiar to devoted Yankee fans, as Edouard Julien, a second baseman from Quebec, Canada, made his MLB debut at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2023, recording both his first hit and home run in the same game.
Julien, a left-handed batter from Auburn University, was drafted by the Twins in the 18th round of 2019. Despite being a late-round pick, he quickly made an impact, reaching the majors in just three years (excluding the 2020 COVID-affected season) and hitting 16 home runs as a rookie, finishing seventh in the 2023 Rookie of the Year voting.
His performance dropped in 2024, hitting only eight home runs, though Twins Daily writer Matthew Trueblood believes Julien’s struggles were mental, possibly due to the “yips,” and noted that he seemed to regain form late in the season. Nevertheless, his total of 24 home runs and 2.5 Wins Above Replacement in 203 MLB games is still impressive for a young middle infielder.
Rumors have surfaced that the Yankees could acquire Julien by offering 25-year-old first baseman Ben Rice, who was ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the Yankees’ system heading into 2024. The speculation became so widespread that it made its way to the popular Yankees blog Bleeding Yankee Blue, where the authors expressed some skepticism.
