GLEYBER TORRES & THE FOREVER THIRD BASE DEBATE

Here we go again. New team, same dilemma. 

Gleyber Torres has traded Yankee pinstripes for Tiger stripes, but the question that followed him out of the Bronx is already back: Could he—would he—fill Detroit’s glaring hole at third base?

The Tigers’ infield is looking a little patchy after multiple injuries, prompting podcaster Chris Brown to throw out a potential fix: Trey Sweeney at short, Colt Keith at second, and—wait for it—Torres at third. Sounds reasonable, right? Well, not so fast.

If history has taught us anything, it’s that Torres plays second base and second base only. His reluctance to shift positions reportedly played a role in his exit from New York, and there’s no reason to believe that stance has changed now that he’s in Detroit. Would manager A.J. Hinch even bring it up? Probably not. The relationship between Hinch and Torres seems solid, built on mutual respect—something Torres might not have always felt with Aaron Boone.

But here’s the real question: If Torres wants to turn his one-year stint in Detroit into something more, would he consider a little flexibility? A few starts at third might not just help the team—it could help him secure a long-term deal. For now, though, it’s a moot point. Torres is the Tigers’ second baseman, and the third base debate remains just that—a debate.