Free agent outfielder Torii Hunter has agreed to a two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal.
The deal is pending a physical, Rosenthal reports.
Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glover and four-time All-Star, told MLB Network on Monday morning that he wanted to decide on a team within two weeks. Other teams reportedly interested in the 37-year-old were the Texas Rangers (he lives in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area), New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
In his 16-year career, Hunter has hit .277 with 297 home runs, 1,143 RBIs and scored 1,068 runs.
Hunter is expected to play rightfield for the Tigers and possibly bat in the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
12. "The lineup is gonna be sick..." In response to Reply # 0 Wed Nov-14-12 12:35 PM by soulfunk
1. AJ 2. Torii 3. Miggy 4. Prince 5. VMart 6. Dirks 7. Peralta 8. Avila 9. Infante
26 mil is too much, bug I can't really complain about that because it's only two years. The downside is it means we probably won't have money to sign Sanchez or to get a good closer.
20. "That's a really good guess" In response to Reply # 19
Based on their last active season, Hunter (2012) was at 5.3 WAR and Victor Martinez (2011) was at 2.9 WAR*. Delmon Young was at -.7 and Boesch at -1.3.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
22. "What is the market for DELMON!?" In response to Reply # 20
>Based on their last active season, Hunter (2012) was at 5.3 >WAR and Victor Martinez (2011) was at 2.9 WAR*. Delmon Young >was at -.7 and Boesch at -1.3.
26. "I think he'll get an MLB deal somewhere" In response to Reply # 22
He's really just... not a good player. I liked him with the Twins and I've always wanted him to succeed, but the things he does badly have gotten worse and the things he does well haven't developed.
The interesting thing about DELMON! is that the sheen of #1 pick never really full goes away. If I was an impossibly shitty team like the Astros that was rebuilding the farm but didn't want to jump straight away into giving Robby Grossman or whoever an MLB job out of spring training, I'd offer DELMON! 1/1mm and the LF job. With barely any territory to patrol and that comically short wall in left for him to aim at when he's hitting, it's a good gamble that he could rebuild his value and they could deal him for anybody with any upside at all before the deadline.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
Even with a team going nowhere like the stros, I bet his leash would be shorter than the one he had here. He basically could do no wrong while doing next to nothing right. But u should never criticized a manager who just went to the WS so I'll fall back.
24. "They could afford to let Sanchez walk now" In response to Reply # 20
And Coke/ Benoit/ Albuquerque isn't a bad back end of the 'pen if they want to skimp there financially to offset a Sanchez contract. Hunter is a really good move for them.
40. "RE: arguably a 4th but we still need one. " In response to Reply # 37
Every team needs someone as good as Annibel Sanchez as their 4th starter. If factors like money and planning for the future are being thrown out the window, then fuck it. Bring back Sanchez and sign Soriano and Broxton to hold the pen down. Problems solved!
42. "RE: Are u suggesting we are not in a win now period??" In response to Reply # 41
Oh, I know the Tigers are in win yesterday mode, but that doesn't mean I won't try to objectively analyze their moves. Verlander is only signed for 2 more years, and Miggy 3. The Hunter move makes sense because it won't impact their payroll when they're going to need extra money to pay their two best players even more than they are now. Giving Sanchez the 5/70 or whatever he's going to get will hurt that. I'm not saying those are factors in the Tigers decision making, but they are factors in the reality of what happens in the future. If Illitch doesn't die w/ ring on his finger and a smile on his face, his lack of regard for fiscal constraint could make it a long time before the new ownership has a smile on theirs.
43. "That's a good frame" In response to Reply # 42
>Verlander is only signed for 2 more years, and Miggy 3. The >Hunter move makes sense because it won't impact their payroll >when they're going to need extra money to pay their two best >players even more than they are now.
Having Sanchez outdate all of those guys by several years is a terrible look. He's apparently asking for 6/90mm - which he'll never get but which is scary enough that it's hard not to then view whatever deal he's going to eventually sign as an inevitable disaster.
Ricky Nolasco is probably the next to go in the ridiculous Marlins sale. His ERA has always been weirdly out of proportion to his peripherals, which are pretty comparable to Sanchez'. I think the team that decides he's just had rough luck (um, for a half decade) could get a nice find.
Ryan Dempster has been weirdly undiscussed in the free agent pitching market too.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
And it's a reasonable point. Sanchez is weird because his demands have gotten out and they look super ugly. There's actually a fairly solid middle class of pitching this year, including a lot of guys that are good bets to be cheaper and better than Sanchez.
______________________________
"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
14. "Good, short veteran signing" In response to Reply # 0
The decline in his 2012 walk rate interests me a bit, because it looked for the prior four seasons like he'd really added a skill that wasn't present when he was younger. The higher strikeout rate says he's starting to hit like an older player, but that might not be a bad look for him as long as he wears it (take the strikeout/power tradeoff and know that strikeouts mean he's not bouncing in doubleplays in that #2 slot) and returns to drawing walks at a pretty good rate like he did from 2008-2012.
His .389 BABIP from 2012 isn't going to happen again, but if walks continue to be a part of his broadening base of offensive skills then the move to a substantially friendlier hitting environment lets the Tigers feel comfortable risking a not-small annual price for only two years. Call it .270/.340/.470 or so?
And don't forget defense. Because in constructing their 2012 softball team the Tigers... totally did. Hunter's graceful decline in center has turned into an asset as a rightfielder, and he should be worth a full win over whoever the Tigers would have played there otherwise. Boesch, I guess? The pitching staff will be greatful, in any event.
Anyhow, they can't all be crazy bargains, but I really like this for a team that is close enough to only need small tweaks. A lot like the Beltran signing for St. Louis last winter.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
16. "I'm hedging on the walks thing" In response to Reply # 15
It's not like last year was a concerning level, but rather a return to his career average territory. But prior to that, he was walking in the 8-9.5% range and had bumped up to that level for four straight years. If he remembers that skill again and has the singles fall in to hit .270, then he'll be on base 35 or 36% of the time.
Part of me kind of wonders if his lower walk rate was due to his weirdly high batting average on balls in play. I remember with the Twins that he was a fascinating player because he was both unbelievably streaky within an individual season (there will be 2-3 week periods where, for all his talent, he will be the last person you want at the plate) and really consistent from season to season. Which makes sense. People who hit .280 don't get seven hits in every single twenty five at-bat repetition. But it's still weird to watch.
In any event, the way he usually responded to streaks was to keep up whatever he was doing. So if contact meant hitting .389 for Hunter like it did all of last year, then you can bet he went to the plate looking for contact.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
17. "Walks concerns me with this whole team" In response to Reply # 16
no player ever looks to take a pitch or work a count. Seems to be contagious too, so that may (probably will) rub off onto his contact happy approaches.
31. "No draft pick compensation either" In response to Reply # 0 Wed Nov-14-12 01:20 PM by Walleye
I wonder if the Angels are reconsidering on not extending a qualifying offer to Hunter since he ended up getting roughly twice that on the open market.
That's not the huge deal it once was, but the Tigers are so aggressive on the trade market that they really shouldn't be punting draft picks as well. And they didn't. Another thing to like about this deal for them.
______________________________
"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
45. "Love it, fills multiple needs, good clubhouse guy, very fair terms" In response to Reply # 0
They need RF and they need a table setter. Very good deal, loved Torii and will miss watching him here. Low-key HOF candidate, this guy was tremendous in his prime and can still do his thing. I don't think he'll make it but I would consider it. Was the top player at a marquee position over a pretty long span of time.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
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