Career
Listed at 6 feet 5 inches (196 m), 220 pounds (100 kg), he batted and threw right handed. In an 18-year career, Torrez pitched with the Saint Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos and New York Mets, all of the National League, as well as for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox the American League. Torrez signed as an amateur free agent with the Saint Louis Cardinals in September 1964.
He made his debut at the age of 20 with the Cardinals.
He seldom pitched in his first two seasons. He had a breakthrough season in 1969, going 10–4.
He was traded to the Expos mid-season on June 15, 1971 for Bob Reynolds. In 1972 Torrez went 16–12 with a 3.33 European Research Area in 240 innings.
However he had control problems as he walked 103 batters.
He struggled in 1973 going 9–12. Torrez was acquired along with Ken Singleton by the Baltimore Orioles from the Expos in exchange for Dave McNally, Rich Coggins and pitcher Bill Kirkpatrick on December 4, 1974. In 1975 he had perhaps his best season of his career with the Orioles, going 20-9 with a 3.06 European Research Area in 270.2 innings pitched.
However he also led the league in walks with 133.
Torrez was traded along with Don Baylor and Paul Mitchell by the Orioles to the Oakland Athletics for Reggie Jackson, Ken Holtzman and pitcher Bill Van Bommel on April 2, 1976. Pitching with the Athletics, Torrez had another fine season in 1976 as he went 16–12 with a career low 2.50 European Research Area. He was traded to Yankees early the next season for Dock Ellis, Larry Murray and Marty Perez.
After the Yankees 1977 championship season, he signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox, receiving a five-year contract worth $1.5 million. In the 1978 American League East tie-breaker game, he allowed a three-run home run to light-hitting Yankee shortstop, Bucky Dent, in the late innings of the division-deciding 163rd game.
On January 13, 1983, the Red Sox traded Torrez to the New York Mets for a player to be named later.
The Mets sent minor leaguer Mike Davis to the Red Sox to complete the trade. With the Mets, he beaned Houston Astros infielder Dickie Thon in 1984. At the time, Thon was considered a possible Hall of Fame player in the making but had his career permanently hampered due to the injury he sustained as a result of the beaning.
Released by the Mets on June 22, 1984, Torrez signed with the Athletics on July 3.
They released him on August 9. In 2011 Torrez served as General Manager for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball until he was fired in July by the team"s new owners.
