New York Yankees

Second baseman Gleyber Torres divulged Saturday that the New York Yankees did not offer him a contract in free agency before he decided to sign with the Detroit Tigers this week.

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Torres said:

"After the World Series, I got a lot of phone calls from other teams and just focused to get an opportunity in another place. I feel like I have to play where somebody wants to give the best for me, and I just want to be available to do the best for the team.

"I've got great friends there, great communication with the entire organization. I feel proud of myself for being with the Yankees for seven years, but now I'm with Detroit and just really happy they gave me the opportunity to play next year. I think they have other priorities and I'm not on the list. I'm good."

After being a key contributor with the Yankees for seven seasons from 2018 to 2024, Torres agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal with the Tigers on Friday, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

New York acquired Torres from the Chicago Cubs in 2016 as part of a deal that sent closer Aroldis Chapman to the Windy City.

Torres established himself as one of the top prospects in baseball and was one of the best offensive middle infielders in the game during his first two seasons with the Yanks in 2018 and 2019.

The Venezuela-born righty was named an All-Star and finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2018 when he slashed .271/.340/.480 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI.

Torres followed that up with the best season of his career in 2019 when he hit .278/.337/.535 with a career-high 38 homers, 90 RBI and 96 runs scored.

While Torres has not come close to replicating those numbers since then, he has remained a strong source of power at the second base position, hitting 24 home runs in 2022 and 25 long balls in 2023.

Last season, Torres had a slash line of .257/.330/.378 with 15 homers, 63 RBI and 80 runs, but he was especially good after being moved into the leadoff spot, as he hit .292 after the All-Star break.

Torres also performed well during the Yankees' run to the World Series last season, slashing .241/.348/.397 with two home runs and eight RBI in 14 playoff games.

The Bronx Bombers lost superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Mets in free agency this offseason, but they have been busy ever since, signing starting pitcher Max Fried and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and acquiring closer Devin Williams and outfielder Cody Bellinger in trades.

Torres' departure leaves the Yankees with an obvious hole at either second base or third base depending on where manager Aaron Boone plans to deploy Jazz Chisholm in 2025.

Alex Bregman, Ha-Seong Kim, Jorge Polanco, Whit Merrifield, Brendan Rodgers and Yoán Moncada are among the top free agents still available at those positions, plus third baseman Nolan Arenado could potentially be had in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.

As for Torres, he joins a Tigers team that surprised many by going 86-76, making the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and reaching the American League Division Series.

Detroit lacks a superstar hitter, but Torres' arrival gives the Tigers a solid core along with outfielder Riley Greene and infielder Colt Keith, plus reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

After their run to the World Series, the New York Yankees will need a replacement for a key member of their lineup.

Infielder Gleyber Torres and the Detroit Tigers agreed to terms on a one-year deal for the 2025 season on Friday. ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported Torres' deal is worth $15 million.

Torres had played the 2024 season on a one-year, $14.2 million deal after avoiding arbitration, and he said in February, "I want to be a Yankee for life." Despite a strong finish to the year, the team chose not to retain him.

In 154 regular-season games, Torres hit .257 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI. He found a groove after the All-Star break and was moved into the leadoff spot in New York's lineup, hitting .292 over the second half of the year. During the team's postseason run, he hit .241 with two home runs and eight RBI as the Yankees ultimately lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

Torres spent two-and-a-half years in the Chicago Cubs farm system at the start of his career before being traded to the Yankees in 2016. He made his major league debut two years later in 2018 and made an immediate splash, earning back-to-back All-Star selections in his first two seasons.

However, the 28-year-old's production leveled off after his scorching start to his career, causing him to be subjected to trade rumors and questions about his effectiveness at second base. Over the second half of the 2024 season and the playoffs, he proved that he can still be a difference-maker in the right situation.

Overall, Torres owns a .265/.334/.441 slash line in 888 career games, and he has registered 138 home runs, 441 RBI, 460 runs scored and 53 stolen bases.

By joining the Tigers, Torres will bring his experience and postseason insight to a team that reached the playoffs this past season. Detroit went on a remarkable late-season run in 2024 and unexpectedly reached the American League Division Series.

Torres will be joining a lineup that also includes rising stars Riley Greene and Colt Keith, creating a strong combination as Detroit chases a playoff spot in 2025.

As for the Yankees, they must now fill a hole at either second base or third base depending on where they decide to deploy Jazz Chisholm next season.

The New York Yankees reportedly have a pair of lefty bullpen arms in their sights as they continue a busy offseason that has included trading for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams and signing Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt, among other moves.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, "Andrew Chafin is high on the Yankees' list of lefty pen targets. Tim Hill is, too."

Chafin, 34, spent the 2024 season with the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, going 4-3 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 70 strikeouts and one save in 56.1 innings (62 appearances).

Hill, also 34, split time in 2024 between the Chicago White Sox and Yankees, finishing 4-0 with a 3.36 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 67 innings (62 appearances). He appeared in 10 postseason games (8.1 innings) as well for the Yankees, posting a 1.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and three strikeouts.

Both would address the major need left on New York's roster—a left-handed arm in the bullpen. Currently, the Yankees' stable of relievers are all right-handed.

The team has previously been linked to Tanner Scott, the top left-handed reliever on the market. But Scott will cost more to acquire and the Yankees already addressed the closer role with the Williams' trade, so Chafin or Hill signings feel more likely.

The Yankees, to this point, have done well to address other needs, including the loss of Juan Soto to the crosstown Mets. New York has distributed that money to fill out a number of positions rather than just one, though the loss of a superstar always hurts.

A Chafin or Hill signing wouldn't be sexy, but the Yankees can't go into the season without a left-handed option in the bullpen.

The New York Yankees have added a former MVP to the roster.

The Yankees are signing first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal, according to YES Network's Jack Curry and ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Goldschmidt, who turned 37 in September, adds a right-handed bat to the Yankees lineup.

He could potentially serve as part of a platoon with Ben Rice, who split time between Triple-A and the MLB last season but could take on a bigger role in 2025.

Here's a look at the Yankees projected starting lineup following the Goldschmidt signing.

Yankees projected 2025 starting lineup

1. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B)
2. Aaron Judge (RF)
3. Cody Bellinger (CF)
4. Giancarlo Stanton (DH)
   
5. Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
6. Jasson Domínguez (LF)
   
7. Austin Wells (C)
8. Oswaldo Cabrera (3B)
9. Anthony Volpe (SS)

The Yankees had a current 2025 payroll of $234 million and a projected 2025 payroll of $266 million prior to the Goldschmidt signing, according to Spotrac.

Even after the addition of Goldschmidt's one-year deal, the team will remain well below their adjusted total 2024 payroll of $308 million (h/t Spotrac) following the offseason departure of Juan Soto in free agency.

Goldschmidt recorded a career-low .245 batting average and .716 OPS while recording 22 home runs and 65 RBI for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.

His numbers improved against left-handed pitchers, against whom he batted .295 in 81 games.

That could make him a potential fit for a platoon with Rice, who struggled to sustain offense at the MLB level but still recorded his best numbers against right-handers.

The Yankees could still be looking to add another infielder to this roster. The team has previously been linked to Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.

The Houston Astros were pursuing Arenado, but he recently blocked a proposed move to Houston using the no-trade clause in his contract, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, John Denton and Brain McTaggart.

Signing Goldschmidt could potentially help the Yankees convince Arenado not to similarly block a trade to the Bronx. The two were teammates over the past four seasons in St. Louis, and MLB.com's Denton, Feinsand and Bryan Hoch recently reported that Goldschmidt "could have a strong influence" on Arenado waiving his no-trade clause for the Yankees.

Chisholm took on a role at third base last season after primarily playing second base earlier in his career. If the Yankees are able to work out a trade for Arenado, Chisholm could slide back to second, with Goldschmidt and shortstop Anthony Volpe rounding out the infield.

Paul Goldschmidt's six-year run with the St. Louis Cardinals is over after he agreed to a deal with the New York Yankees.

Jack Curry of the YES Network first reported Goldschmidt and the Yankees reached agreement on a one-year contract. ESPN's Jeff Passan added the deal will be worth $12.5 million.

Even though the Cardinals were able to salvage a decent season by record (83-79), this roster was in desperate need of an overhaul.

St. Louis had the third-oldest roster in MLB during the 2024 season. The age-related decline for former star players like Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado left the team in a difficult spot.

It's to the credit of Cardinals general manager Mike Girsch that they did eventually start to embrace a youth movement. Masyn Winn, Lars Nootbar, Alec Burleson and Andre Pallante all look like contributors on the next great St. Louis team.

Goldschmidt's future is more difficult to figure out. He is only two years removed from winning the NL MVP award with a .317/.404/.578 slash line in 151 games during the 2022 campaign.

But now, at 38 years old, Goldschmidt doesn't look anything like that hitter. He had his highest strikeout rate (26.5 percent) since his rookie year in 2011 when he only played in 48 games. He has the lowest walk rate (7.2 percent) of his career.

Goldschmidt was right around league average with a 98 OPS+ last season, but that's not what you want from a player who can only play at first base or DH.

The Yankees will be hoping that a change of scenery can provide a spark that turns things around for Goldschmidt. His track record of success does offer some hope he will fix things, though it's hard not to be concerned because of his age.

This isn't exactly the big splash Yankees fans may have been wanting given their lineup issues beyond Aaron Judge, but Goldschmidt does represent an upgrade over what they got out of Anthony Rizzo at first base last season.

Since there is no way to add a one-for-one replacement for Juan Soto, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has done a solid job of recreating his production in the aggregate.

New York's biggest addition was to the pitching staff by signing Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract. The reigning AL champs are also hoping the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium will provide a boost to Cody Bellinger's power output after they acquired him from the Chicago Cubs.

Goldschmidt certainly helps the Yankees against left-handed pitching in a way that Bellinger doesn't. Bellinger had a .305 on-base percentage against lefties last season. He did hit for average (.298) and decent power (.441), but they need him to get on base at a higher clip to be of significant value.

By comparison, Goldschmidt had a .295/.366/.473 slash line vs. left-handed pitching last season. He can still be an effective player in the right circumstances, but the Yankees still have work to do with their offense to get back to the level they were at in 2024 with Soto hitting in front of Judge.

The New York Yankees reportedly have eyes for free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

According to John Denton, Mark Feinsand and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, "the Yankees' interest in adding veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is rapidly increasing," especially after free agent option Christian Walker instead signed with the Houston Astros.

As the MLB.com report added, Goldschmidt's "potential presence in New York could have a strong influence on former teammate Nolan Arenado waiving his no-trade clause and agreeing to play for the Yankees if New York pursues a trade with St. Louis for the 10-time Gold Glove winner. The Yankees approached the Cardinals earlier this offseason about a deal for Arenado, sources said, but they were rebuffed because St. Louis had no interest in taking on the contract of veteran right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman."

That would be a nice combination of additions for the Yankees after the team lost Juan Soto in free agency to the New York Mets this winter.

Goldschmidt, 37, hit .245 with 22 homers, 65 RBI and a .716 OPS in 2024. The seven-time All-Star and former NL MVP is no longer one of the top hitters in baseball, but he would provide a minor upgrade at first base for the Bronx Bombers.

Ditto for Arenado at third base, which in turn would allow the team to transition Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base. The 33-year-old Arenado hit .272 with 16 homers, 71 RBI and a .719 OPS in 2024, arguably his worst season since his rookie campaign back in 2013.

If the Yankees responded to the loss of Soto by adding Goldschmidt and Arenado to their trio of big-name additions already this winter—Max Fried, Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams—it would be a solid offseason.

The MLB.com report noted that Goldschmidt's desire to sign a multi-year deal has proven to be a "sticking point" in negotiations, however, which could ultimately hinder their shot at Arenado as well.

The New York Yankees traded catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, according to Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The Yankees received right-handed relief pitcher Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson from the Reds in exchange for Trevino, per Sherman and Heyman.

New York announced the move was official shortly after the New York Post's report:

The 32-year-old primarily served as New York's backup catcher in 2024, hitting .215 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 73 appearances.

Trevino's value stems from his defense, as he earned Platinum Glove honors to go along with his Gold Glove selection in 2022. He also made an All-Star appearance that year, racking up 11 homers and 43 RBIs.

His 2023 campaign was cut short due to wrist surgery and he was replaced in New York's lineup by Austin Wells in 2024. Wells finished No. 3 in American League Rookie of the Year voting and is expected to remain a key contributor for the Bronx Bombers moving forward.

Trevino is under his final year of team control on his contract before becoming a free agent following the 2025 season.

Cruz suited up in 69 games for the Reds in 2024, accumulating a 4.86 ERA to go along with a 1.335 WHIP. Despite the 34-year-old's high ERA, he's been adept at causing opposing hitters to whiff at his pitches.

Cruz averaged an impressive 14.7 strikeouts per nine innings last season. In 66.2 innings of work during his 2024 campaign, he struck out 109 batters while allowing 35 walks.

Jackson spent the 2024 season on the Tampa Bay Rays and struggled to make an impact. He owns a .456 OPS for his career and will likely fill Trevino's depth role behind Wells.

The Yankees have been active on the trade market as of late, acquiring Cody Bellinger in an agreement with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

Now, they've dealt Trevino to the Reds.

The New York Yankees are reportedly staying aggressive in the free-agent market as they continue to search for solutions at first base.

In the aftermath of Christian Walker's reported deal with the Houston Astros, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the team is focused on free agents Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana moving forward:

Nightengale reported that the qualifying offer the Arizona Diamondbacks gave Walker deterred the Yankees' pursuit before the Astros swooped in. Walker reportedly agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with Houston.

The Yankees went 94-68 in 2024 and reached the World Series. While it was a pretty successful season, first base was a weakness as Anthony Rizzo dealt with injuries and also produced just eight home runs. The team enjoyed a brief hot stretch from rookie Ben Rice, but his bat ultimately went cold and he finished the season with a .171 batting average.

While Walker could have filled that hole, Goldschmidt and Santana are both viable options. Santana slashed .238/.328/.420 with 23 home runs and 71 RBIs for the Minnesota Twins in 2024. He is a switch hitter who could be a short-term fill while players like Rice develop.

Goldschmidt would be a flashier option considering that he is a former MVP winner. The 37-year-old slashed .245/.302/.414 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024.

Regardless of who they sign, it looks like the Yankees still have every intention of adding a veteran first baseman during an offseason that has already seen them sign starting pitcher Max Fried and acquire former MVP Cody Bellinger.

The New York Yankees have already had a big offseason, but they aren't done yet.

After signing Max Fried and trading for Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman indicated that New York plans to stay busy this offseason.

"We've done some heavy lifting with Max, with Devin Williams, with Bellinger," he said, per ESPN's Jorge Castillo. "But there's more lifting to do."

The Yankees, who couldn't retain Juan Soto as the star left for the New York Mets on a historic 15-year, $765 million deal, inked Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract, the richest ever for a left-handed pitcher.

They landed Williams last week in return for left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes, infielder Caleb Durbin and cash considerations. The latest trade on Tuesday for former MVP Bellinger cost New York right-hander Cody Poteet.

The Yankees couldn't land a home run by signing Soto, who had 41 homers and 109 RBI while playing in pinstripes last year, but they've managed to put together a successful offseason thus far.

New York's haul could get even better in the coming weeks. According to Castillo, the Yankees are set to meet with Japanese star right-hander Roki Sasaki in California "soon."

Landing the 23-year-old would help ease the blow of losing out on a generational talent in Soto and perhaps give New York the tools to make another World Series run in 2025.

The door is open for New York Yankees star prospect Jasson Domínguez to become an everyday fixture in the team's lineup, and general manager Brian Cashman only made that notion clearer on Wednesday, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

There's a spot open in left field with Alex Verdugo now a free agent. Cody Bellinger will occupy center, with Aaron Judge moving to right. Domínguez is clearly the first man up for the left field job.

The Yankees called Domínguez up on Sept. 1, 2023. He hit a home run on his very first swing, taking future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander deep in a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros.

Domínguez hit four home runs over eight games, but he was diagnosed with a torn UCL on Sept. 10, ending his season and keeping him out for the first part of the 2024 campaign. Domínguez was later optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in June, but he suffered an oblique strain that kept him out until late July.

For the season, Domínguez played 58 minor league games (notably 44 on the Triple-A level), hitting .314 (.880 OPS) with 11 home runs and 35 RBI alongside 43 runs and 16 stolen bases. He did have a cup of coffee in the bigs, hitting .179 (.617 OPS) with two homers and four RBI in 18 games.

Domínguez, who turns 22 years old on Feb. 7, will now have the benefit of a full and healthy offseason ahead of him to get ready for the big league season. Obviously, the Yankees are counting on him to bolster a lineup that could sorely miss Juan Soto, who departed in free agency for the New York Mets.

Domínguez, the No. 9 overall prospect on Bleacher Report's top-100 list, certainly has star potential in the bigs, though. And as of now, he's the clear favorite to start in left field when the 2025 Yankees open the season on March 27 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers.