FRIDAY: GM Jerry Dipoto says the Angels remain interested in re-signing Hunter, Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register reports. "Finding a way to fit Torii in is a challenge, but we have been open that we want him back,” Dipoto said. “We haven’t closed the door on Torii and he hasn’t closed the door on us.”
THURSDAY: The Angels are highly unlikely to re-sign right fielder Torii Hunter, MLBTR has learned from a source close to the situation. The Angels are prioritizing pitching this offseason, and Hunter will have a chance to explore the open market.
Hunter, 37, signed a five-year, $90MM deal with the Angels after the '07 season. He hit .313/.365/.451 with 16 home runs in 584 plate appearances this year, so he's still an asset from the right side of the plate. His right field defense grades out as above-average. MVP candidate Mike Trout is assured of a starting spot next year for the Halos, while Vernon Wells, Peter Bourjos, and Mark Trumbo project to take the rest of the at-bats.
A week ago, Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote that the Angels offered Hunter "only a one-year contract at a heavy pay cut from his $18 million salary," and that Hunter is aiming for at least a two-year deal. At this stage in his career I imagine Hunter is focused on playing for a contender, with teams such as the Phillies and Rangers looking like viable options.
“Hey Torii – Give me a call.” – Frank Wren
Basically what I was about to post. He’ll be a Brave if he wants to be.
Where would he play? Heyward is in RF and he can’t play CF anymore. I thought Prado was going to play LF? Is he gonna go to 3B? Or else I don’t know where he’d play
The plan is to move Prado to 3B.
I had heard about it but didn’t know if it was official. One other thing, will Hunter be okay play LF? Because like I said Heyward has RF locked up
He plays RF well, LF should be no problem for Hunter.
I’m sure he can… not many innings played there (119 for his career), but he’s an above average CF and RF. The transition to LF shouldn’t be that hard. No quirks or huge gap in LF that he needs to cover
My point was not could he play LF, but rather would he prefer to play RF
He’s definitely not an above average CFer. He was pretty good up until 2005 and since then he has been passable to downright awful in CF.
Pretty good in CF? 9 gold gloves isn’t pretty good, and he has never been awful at anything in his career.
Did you just use Gold Gloves to qualify defense? Do I even need to go into why that’s horrible measure of defense?
Hunter hasn’t posted a positive UZR/UZR 150 in CF since 2005. His CAREER CF UZR/UZR150 is -0.5.
DRS has him at -10 his last full year in CF. And since 2005 Hunter only had one year where DRS rated him in the positive (2009). Was Hunter once a good CF? Yes, but no longer. So again, he’s definitely not an above average CFer.
If you’d like to retort please show me something more than “He won 9 gold gloves”. Rafael Palmeiro won a gold glove once for 1st base you know, and he spent almost the whole season as a DH.
I would assume that Torii wants to win at this point in his career. Getting in with the Braves at this juncture may be an ideal situation for him.
Do you think the Angels aren’t going to be good? They have the best player in baseball and Pujols and Weaver and now perhaps Grienke…
Chipper retired, Prado has played a ton of 3rd(And 2nd-could try Uggla at 3rd and Prado goes to 2nd) then plenty of room for Torii in Left or even Right, though JHey was really good in Right last year
No way that Heyward leaves RF. None.
Heyward never could play CF, he’s an emergency CF at best. Prado will move back to 3rd because he is a plus defender at that position and LF is an easier void to fill than 3rd. So to answer your question directly, Hunter would play LF.
Never meant Heyward in CF, meant Hunter
Prado is the new 3B, Heyward stays in RF, and Torii moves to LF, they still need to sign a leadoff hitter CF type.
Yeah i got that. What I am saying is does Torii want to play LF? He just moved to RF, handled the position well, and he may prefer to sign with a team that will let him play RF. It is different reading balls from RF to LF
I’d be ok with Prado hitting Leadoff next year, or Simmons if he can get his OBP up to 340, though I worry about Simmons baserunning- he made a few bonehead plays on the basepaths last year.
I think between Prado and Heyward, he could play CF. Those two have massive range for corner OFs and could cover for a subpar-range CFer. I wouldn’t mind Juan Fransisco at 3B for a year, I think he could be a poor man’s Panda. If you can sign or trade for a LFer as well, or Gattis can win the job next year, then you move Prado to 3B.
I would talk to the Padres about Gyorko or Headley.
I think there is no way a GM should expect a 38 year old to man CF for 150+ games. That’s a really poor baseball decision
He’d be the new LF and cleanup hitter, only question would be for how much money?
Bad deal. Torii is much more than just a ballplayer. He’s a clubhouse leader, and losing him would be bad, especially if he ends up in Texas. Ex-Angels in Texas have a way of haunting us.
I totally agree with you. I want to see him back he is still very valuable and the best right fielder in MLB besides being a club house leader!!
They gave that Pujols dude 260M dollars, I’m sure he can provide a little leadership soon. Torii Hunter smiles a lot so people believe in his “intangibles”.
I’d eat Wells contract before I let Hunter walk.
The gift that keeps on giving.
I understand that, but then you’d eat Wells and have to pay Hunter; more than $30 Million for one spot. Ouch!
I still wonder, with Bourjos, Trout and Trumbo, will Wells still be their 4th OF?
If the Halos are going to eat Wells’ contract, there will be takers for his services. His contract is toxic, but he’s still got something left in the tank. You don’t cut that. You eat money and trade it.
I don’t think they are going to do either, but if they did cut him, there would be a line of teams putting in their bids to pick him up at the league minimum.
Hunter would be a perfect fit in Baltimore.
Don’t they already have a logjam of outfielders?
They have Jones and Markakis, but LF is pretty much wide open. I don’t think the likes of Reimold, Avery, etc. are going to prevent the Orioles from pursuing an upgrade.
Thanks for the info! My question was a legitimate one, I have no idea why people would give me a thumbs down.
Oh giving me the thumbs down for the sake of a thumbs down eh readers? One day I shall have my thumbs down vengeance!
Braves, Braves, Braves – 1-year deal – come on home Torii.
I have to wonder if he would consider the Red Sox. They have a gaping hole in left field, and in their lineup, and everything I heard about him is that he’s a great clubhouse presence.
The team has money to spend, and putting $20M over 2 years wouldn’t be outrageous for someone like Hunter. He’s old, but he’s been healthy for most of his career. Of course, 2012 was his best season of his last 4, and more likely an anomaly than a sustainable level.
Granted, if he’s looking for a contender in 2013, he won’t find one in Boston, and the Red Sox aren’t going to want to spend a ton of money in their bridge year, but he might be the best thing available.
I was kinda wondering the same thing with moving Ross to left and Hunter to right. Odds are against the Sox competing in 2013 but 2014 isn’t out of the question. My only problem is the last time we signed an aging outfielder mainly for their defense and presence it backfired.
Well it’s still an interesting idea.
Hunter would be a nice addition to the Sox, and he still has enough tread left on his tires to warrant two years, but Cody Ross playing The Wall? Not too sure. But, for that matter, who else would they have?
I bet the Sox would be willing to go 2 years, especially with Jackie Bradley Jr. and Bryce Brentz on the way but still needing some time to finish developing.
That being said, Ryan Kalish has to be in the picture somewhere, doesn’t he?
My gut says Hunter will be in Philly on a 3 year deal because Ruben will go an extra year than everyone else because, well, that’s what he does.
But on a two year deal, I’d love him in Philly. Another clubhouse guy with Jimmy and Chase would be great. Still need a CF and a 3B. If they sign Hunter, than Ruf is out if a spot unless they platoon he and Brown in LF.
Or you put hunter in cf crossing your fingers he gives us average cf defense which I believe he’s plenty capable of doing, brown in RF and ruf in Lf with Mayberry platooning with brown of needed. Rather have hunter the bj upton in center or Bourne with the money those two will command. A two year deal wouldn’t hurt the team.
I’d platoon Domonic Brown/Darin Ruf in Left Field, use Mayberry as a defensive replacement/pinch hitter/5th outfielder and sign BJ Upton or Michael Bourn (if the price is right).
That to me would be an elite defense in Center/Right and a decent offense too.
Rollins
Hunter
Utley
Howard
Ruiz
Upton
Brown/Ruf
Galvis/Fransden
Pitcher.
and the improvements in the outfield MIGHT be enough to get away with Freddy Galvis/Kevin Fransden as the platoon at third.
He lives here near Dallas but I’m not sure the Rangers are a fit. If they can get rid of Young and free up DH (for Cruz), then maybe.
Halo fans, tell me, could he still play CF? I know him and his stats, but I’ve never watched him, so beyond his UZR, I don’t know if he still has that capability, so can he?
O’s would be an ideal place for Torii, if he would be ok with the Baltimore area.
A great ballpark, great ballclub where his character would be an awesome fit.
I think 2 year plus a club option year would be the ideal.
What do you guys think his value is? This year Hunter had a 5.3 WAR, an anomaly to his last couple of years, but I think he’s a “safe” 2.5 WAR player for each of the next two seasons.
If you pay around 4-5 mil per WAR, then 11 mil per year seems reasonable for a player of Torii’s caliber, considering there’s the risk of him fast declining, with him in his late 30’s.
Many teams should be in on Torii, he can get pretty rich is my guess. But it would be pretty interesting to see him as an Oriole, that ballpark would be lit up by him.
Ideal how? where would they play him? He wouldn’t want to DH, and I doubt he would switch to left.
Well, you seems to know exactly how Hunter feels about things.
I don’t know him as well as you do. But I was thinking it would be a great fit with Hunter splitting time between RF/LF and some DH. I’d have him, Wieters, and a few other players rotating on the DH spot, to rest and keep fresh throughout the season.
But if you know that Hunter won’t accept playing LF or any games at DH, then I suppose Orioles isn’t a realistic fit.
he just collected $97M in the past five years!!! ‘pretty rich’already, i’d say. but yeah I think there may be a few fits out there for Torii. he’s still got something left
I am a Phillies phan, but I think Orioles would be the best environment for Torii Hunter, with the DH spot where he could get a break from playing the outfield once every 6-7 games, just to keep his game at peak. Also, Showalter and the clubhouse would be great fit for Hunter, I think.
I mentioned the ballpark, and that’s also an aspect.
If it were me and I could place Torii Hunter in any club I wanted the next two seasons, to see him play the best baseball possible, it would be Baltimore probably. Or perhaps Texas.
This is horrible news and all due to the Wells deal. I’m guessing he lands with the Rangers since he lives in the area, they’re a contending team and Rangers are unlikely to re-sign Hamilton. And as other have mentioned, ex-Angels in TX always come back to haunt us.
I’m hoping that’s the case 🙂 – Rangers fans
Make Hunter a qualifying $13.5M offer. If he accepts he is an Angel. If he declines the Angels get a pick and the team that signs him loses one.
Probably unlikely because his playing time would be cut – but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Dodgers made a run at Hunter. They could use him as a full-time starter until Crawford is ready. After that, he could be used to platoon Ethier and Crawford, both of whom struggle against LHP (Crawford .263/.309/.379 career, Ethier .238/.296/.352 career).
Hunter is also really close with Matt Kemp, and he’d be able to stay in L.A.
Who would have thought that “wanting to win” would mean leaving a team with Pujols and Trout and Weaver and many other capables.
I think what Hunter mean is that he wants to get at least a two year deal, which he won’t get with the Angels, and the team he signs with will be a team that he feels have a legit chance of going all the way.
A team like Texas, Washington, Detroit
Not teams like Seattle, San Diego, Chicago Cubs or Houston.
I think Orioles after this year could lure Hunter, but they need to “sell” him the idea.
It’s a team where he could thrive for two-three years, with the home runs friendly ballparks of the AL East.
People sometimes say that Orioles have a hitters park, but the same could be said for all the clubs in the division, Toronto being slightly more “neutral”.
This means that hitters thrive in these clubs.
Which would be great for a guy like Hunter. Look at how Grandersons HR numbers jumped when he were traded from Detroit to Yankees.
I’d give anything to have Torii as a Met. Love him. We need that outfield leadership presence that has been a huge void since Beltran left. I could only imagine the influence he would have on a young kid like Valdespin.
Hunter wants another shot or two at winning. kind of eliminates the Mets
I also think that Mets are gonna rebuild their club. Getting a player like Hunter, who may very well have up to 5 good years left, makes little sense.
The Mets resources needs to invested in the draft, international signings, locking up young team controlled players on long contracts, and spend money on staff, like hitting coaches, pitching coaches, athletic trainers, et al.
That’s why I also believe Mets needs to shop David Wright asap.
I believe Reds would be an ideal trading partner, Cincinatti have a need at the hot corner, while being contenders, as well as having a very fertile farm system.
Doubt he has 5 years left. Last year was an extremely lucky year and he is 37
Hunter’s in real good shape. Is it likely he’ll be on a high level in 5 years? No, but he could still be “good, but not great”.
In 5 years Hunter could be as good (or bad, depending on your perspective) as Raul Ibanez. Maybe slightly better.
If he’s even playing by then. I was just suggesting that Hunter actually may have a few more years in the tank that what is commonly suggested (1-2 years).
Honestly, Im not convinced by his season last year- history says don’t trust career years for hitters at age 37, especially when they have been a good player throughout their career. I have a feeling Hunter will get a decent sized deal, and the team will regret it- a la Andruw Jones
This year Hunter played to a 5.3 WAR, which was, of course, an anomaly.
The last couple of years he’s been around 3.5 WAR, with a low year of 2.6 a few years ago.
I think he could keep on producing 2.5 WAR for a few more years.
A good deal for both Hunter and a team, would be 3 years/24 mil (10 mil the first year, 8 the second, 6 mil the 3rd and final)
But I think he’ll end up getting (much) more than that.
Any team paying more than 10 mil per year on Hunter is overpaying. I’m saying that, despite thinking he can keep producing 2.5 WAR. But there is still a risk with his age and a possible decline.
I think he has 2 years left. However I’m talking more of a 270-280 hitter with maybe 15 bombs. I don’t think he will repeat this year, and I think a team will overpay for this year- like they always do. IMO no way he goes from 18M to only an average of 8M, coming off a “career” year. Like I said, I think he gets 3/36 and the team will severely regret it.
Sounds like it’s my Phillies that will be paying him off. Typical Ruben Minaya to go off on a 3 year deal like that. 36/3 sounds about right with Ruben… The worst thing is that guys in the upper 30’s should be in the AL where they can get some playing time on the DH spot, to keep fresh.
Ruben Minaya don’t seem to have grasped this.
Could see Philly, Atl, maybe Mia if they want to try FA again, SF, MIL if they deal Hart, and even Cincy to a lesser extent. In the AL it could be like 1/2 the league because of the DH. Have a feeling he will be a disappointing signing by the end of the deal
you’re his agent, right?
No, I am not his agent. If I were, I would recommend Hunter to try to work out a deal with Baltimore though.
Don’t count the Mets out. What, we’re gonna pretend the 1st half of this past season (before the injuries) never happened? The potential to win is there, but they sorely need leaders and maintain consistency. We have no leaders. Met fans like to point to David Wright as a leader, but in reality, he’s a “face”.
still ain’t happening. Hunter signing there, I mean. as for my once-beloved Mets, don’t know. don’t see them enough, living in the west. (was a kid watching the ’69 Amazin’s, so how could you not love that. even still despite the Expos’ arrival. stopped being one when they traded the “face” aka Tom Terrific)
The Mets aren’t going to spend the money to get him and they aren’t looking at any short term replacements in the OF. They are going to stink next year anyway, so it’s money down the drain. Might as well go young and cheap with potential and see what you’ve got if you are going to lose anyway.
Too bad their idea of “young and cheap with potential” means sticking a mannequin like Lucas Duda in the OF when it’s painfully obvious he’s not an outfielder…or a position player in general.
Orioles. There’s possible interest there for their opening in LF.
PROS:
– He has a mentor-type of relationship with CF Adam Jones who has looked up to him.
– He would be an above-average OBP performer which Duquette likes.
– His defense is still considered above-average, and his glove and range in LF would help make the OF defense one of the best in the majors.
– Veteran leadership. Playoff-tested.
CONS:
– His 100+ strikeouts is trending the wrong way and the team already strikes out at a huge rate.
– The Orioles may actually want more of a leadoff bat that features speed and versatility (e.g. McClouth).
Good point about the strikeouts!
Despite not being an Orioles fan, I think Torii Hunter would be an excellent fit in Baltimore, and I hope he ends up there, speaking as a fan of everything baseball.
I would love for the Braves to sign him, kills lefties, capable defines at LF, and good clubhouse presence.
Yankees are not bringing back Andruw Jones and will make Swisher the minimum qualifying to garner a pick when he refuses. If he’s willing to accept something like 2 yrs $15MM, I could see him in Pinstripes patrolling RF.
Why would Swisher refuse a $3.3M raise, especially when he knows no team is going to give up their first round pick to sign him? That said, the Angels should make a qualifying offer to Hunter,
Swisher is looking for more than a one year deal and substantially more than a $3.3MM raise. Yankees don’t see him as a long term solution and Hunter is an upgrade in the short term.
“Hunter is an upgrade in the short term.” We get it you dont like Swisher but you dont have to make things up. If swisher could be had for 2 yrs he’d be the much better option, especially for a team that people think needs to get younger.
@jjs91
Obviously you haven’t been paying close attention. Swisher let it be known that he’s looking for a $100MM contract, that does not translate to a 2 yr deal. While I agree that they do need to get younger, Cashman stated recently that he doesn’t care much about getting younger as much as getting better. You probably missed that.
As for making things up, what did I make up?
That Swisher is looking for a substantial raise or that Hunter is an upgrade in the short term?
That he;s an upgrade in the short term,
My point is that by making a qualifying offer to Swisher it diminishes his ability to find a team willing to sign him because it would cost them a draft pick (which the Yankees wouldn’t get BTW). If it was me, I would take the $13.3M and wait for the Yankees to trade me and go free agent next year.
Swisher let it be known that he wants big money. He had a decent enough year in that he feels he can get something more than a qualifying offer. Why would he settle for that and repeat the process again next year?
Truely sad news to hear and I hope it’s just what it’s captioned to be: a rumor. Torii is the creme filling in the Trout and Pujols Oreo sandwich, hence his first .300 season BA in his career.
But he is much more than an ideal #2 in the Angels line-up. He is still probably on of the top 5 RFers in the game and perhaps more importantly, a presence on the bench. The Angels will not get bullpen help the worth of what they will lose by not re-signing Torii.
Bummer. I like Torii Hunter and wish the Angels could make it work, but I guess it won’t be the first time. Same tough decisions had to be made about Garrett Anderson and Vlad Guerrero.
It’s a good business decision in the long run to let him walk. Angels need to be disciplined.
I’d be fine with signing Tori Hunter to a two year deal to bat 2nd or 6th for the Phillies. I wouldn’t be over joyed but I think he’d be a good addition on the short term.
Ideally, they’d get a younger option but I’m not sure who else is a fit. I was a big fan of Bourjous but if they let Hunter walk they’re going to need him.
Look for Ruben Minaya Jr to offer a 3 year deal worth 36-40 mil to Torii Hunter.
Minaya’s known to break the bank on stupid deals.
You seems awfully fond of the big contracts handed out by Ruben Amaro over the years to free agents. You’d ever pondered the idea of Phillies trying to get more prospects through trades and build a solid farm system, similar to St Louis?
Just for comparison’s sake, St Louis won the World Series last year, yet have both Wong and Taveras knocking on the door for jobs as position player starters, and the young arms in St Louis are second to none.
You ever thought Phillies perhaps should explore that route instead of chasing free agents and big names like Hunter Pence in trades (giving up their own top prospects).
I’ve thought about that. The problem is it’s almost impossible to make a team younger AND better.
It’s a nice concept though, and a lot easier said than done.
This for Angel fans here. Suppose Phils’ GM Amaro calls his Angels’ counterpart (Dipoto?) and says, you give us $20 M and we’ll take the Vernon Wells contract off your hands along with Bourjos and minor league 3B prospect Luis Jimenez. This makes you (Angels) in a better position financially to re-sign Hunter and, in a weeded out OF, room to play him. And by the way we’ll give you back 3 players, none on track for Cooperstown. What would you as Halo fans expect coming back? I’ll suggest the names of OF John Mayberry, Jr., P Josh Lindblom and prospect C Sebastian Valle. Does Dipoto hear him out or just politely hang up the phone?
Sorry, I would pass. I want Wells gone as much as the next fan but anything for Borjous would have to include something that would help out the mess in the bullpen.
I’ve been wondering about a Bourjos/Worley swap for a little bit now. Worley’s coming off a injury shortened season (bone spur), but the year before that he was a more than capable middle of the rotation type of pitcher, who’s very cheap, which could appeal to the Angels who’re going to be in the market to spend big on Greinke. Meanwhile, Bourjos is coming off a down year and is blocked if they resign Tori Hunter. (he might even still be blocked b/c of Trumbo/Wells/Trout).
I was hoping that somebody commenting on the trade idea would notice that the Angels would lose Hunter for nothing if he is left untendered and that, without a trade, Hunter playing one year for $13.3 million might not be what Angels’ management has in mind or would prefer. If Hunter is left untendered in 2 weeks time, then presumably they wouldn’t do the deal because they need Bourjos for their OF. And if Hunter is tendered, the Phils might not even make the call to Dipoto because presumably the Angels have figured out by then how to make the salaries work. So this would be a time sensitive trade if it were to happen in some similar form to what I proposed. Could be the Angels already have a replacement in mind for Hunter and his loss is not a big deal but that’s what you’re looking at, the loss of Hunter for really nothing in return.
click
The Yankees seem as likely as any of these other teams. Swisher is certainly gone. Sign Ichiro and hunter for the corner OF spots. Brett Gardner can come off the bench and rotate in the outfield to give the older guys days off. Hunter would be an excellent extra righty bat that the team needs.
The sad part of this entire discussion is Tori Hunter has to go because they have an anchor in Vernon Wells.
Everyone seems to be ignoring what is really happening, its not about the money. Torii figures he has 3-5 years left and wants a World Series ring. He is only going to sign with a team that offers a good chance of that happening during that time period.
Hunter lives in Arlington. The Rangers have told Hamilton to test the market. See where this could be headed?
Angels will spend big on a closer. They have wasted the last few years going young with the bullpen instead of getting good pieces.