Torii Hunter a back-burner option (Signs w/Twins)

[Dark Helmet]

I'm not sure what that means. He was about 6 runs better than average with the bat, 2 more on the bases. If he'd been a full-time DH he would have been a one or one-and-a-half win player.

Exactly. As a DH he would have been a 1.5 player. He was only worth half a win (actually .3) due to his poor defense. He's basically a DH, and he will want and get more than a 1/4m deal.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Does "being a 40 year old" count as an injury?

Does going from 36 to 38 take you from +16 to -19 without injuries also being a factor? We're talking about a guy who prides himself on conditioning.

[DrungoHazewood]

Exactly. As a DH he would have been a 1.5 player. He was only worth half a win (actually .3) due to his poor defense. He's basically a DH, and he will want and get more than a 1/4m deal.

He may, but he wouldn't from me. When you're (optimistically) a 1.5 win player at 38, I'd assume you're going to decline at least half a win at 39. So with rose-colored glasses that's one win, or 1/6. That would be my very upper limit.

[Dark Helmet]

He may, but he wouldn't from me. When you're (optimistically) a 1.5 win player at 38, I'd assume you're going to decline at least half a win at 39. So with rose-colored glasses that's one win, or 1/6. That would be my very upper limit.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I just believe some team will think he's worth a 1/10 deal. Hope it's not us.

[paulcoates]

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_26994151/charley-walters-torii-hunter-twins-have-common-interest

Sounds like he might want to reunite with the Twins

[Loophole]

Does going from 36 to 38 take you from +16 to -19 without injuries also being a factor? We're talking about a guy who prides himself on conditioning.

Sure? That really isn't hard to believe at all. He was never really THAT good defensively anyway (good at running into walls, sure). He isn't a decent center fielder anymore, he's a decrepit right fielder, anyway you cut it. He'd be Vlad or Sosa all over again.

[AlbionHero]

I'm not disagreeing with you. I just believe some team will think he's worth a 1/10 deal. Hope it's not us.

Someone will certainly give him a 1/10 mil deal. A good veteran like that wouldn't bother coming back for only a couple million dollars since he's already been considering retirement.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Sure? That really isn't hard to believe at all. He was never really THAT good defensively anyway (good at running into walls, sure). He isn't a decent center fielder anymore, he's a decrepit right fielder, anyway you cut it. He'd be Vlad or Sosa all over again.

Yeah, well, it's a little hard for me to believe that 2 years of age alone drops you 35 runs.

[Loophole]

Yeah, well, it's a little hard for me to believe that 2 years of age alone drops you 35 runs.

1. Doesn't matter what the starting point is. He's one of the oldest players in baseball; defensive crappiness should be expected.

2. That 15 was the highest mark he'd had since 2004. Even in his prime he couldn't be relied on for that.

3. Defensive stats are not reliable year to year. They're fickle, especially Hunter's numbers over the years. To me, putting more stock in a positive figure from a 36 year old than a negative figure from a 38 year old is ridiculous.

4. This isn't a vacuum. The difference between two years isn't the same for a 22-24 year old or 28-30 year old. The length of time doesn't matter at his age. He's geriatric in baseball years.

5. He's going to be 39 next year. Seriously. We're talking about the defense of a 39 year old outfielder. Are you a close friend or relative?

[AlbionHero]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/free-agent-profile-torii-hunter.html

Ultimately, assuming Hunter picks amongst the clubs pushing the top of his market, I think he will land a deal in the range of two years and $22MM. If he ultimately falls shy of that mark, it could well be because he prefers a one-year deal or takes a discount for one reason or another.

[24fps]

Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Perhaps we should include MLB front offices as a separate category if Torii Hunter receives anything close to 2/22.

[AlbionHero]

Perhaps we should include MLB front offices as a separate category if Torii Hunter receives anything close to 2/22.

For what its worth, MLBTR has been pretty accurate with their contract predictions so far. Like people scoffed at their prediction of Billy Butler getting 3/30, but then he got it. They know the market well.

[CA-ORIOLE]

1. Doesn't matter what the starting point is. He's one of the oldest players in baseball; defensive crappiness should be expected.

2. That 15 was the highest mark he'd had since 2004. Even in his prime he couldn't be relied on for that.

3. Defensive stats are not reliable year to year. They're fickle, especially Hunter's numbers over the years. To me, putting more stock in a positive figure from a 36 year old than a negative figure from a 38 year old is ridiculous.

4. This isn't a vacuum. The difference between two years isn't the same for a 22-24 year old or 28-30 year old. The length of time doesn't matter at his age. He's geriatric in baseball years.

5. He's going to be 39 next year. Seriously. We're talking about the defense of a 39 year old outfielder. Are you a close friend or relative?

1. Yeah, guys just doesn't drop 35 runs in 2 years by age without other factors besides just age (i.e injuries). Hunter has historically been a very well conditioned athlete, so if it is injury related (which I suspect it may be) it may be mitigated in the future.

2. Hunter started playing RF full time in 2011. He was a plus fielder in 2011 and 2012. Well above average by DRS. His defense in CF going back to 2004 matters little and while I think TH was overrated defensively, he was certainly above average at the position and well above average in his prime. There is a difference between defense in CF and defense in RF.

3. Which is why you shouldn't take a minus 19 as an absolute while ignoring the +9 and +16 from a couple years ago. Defense can take pretty huge hit from injuries while offense is less affected.

4. That may be, but assuming 2 years of age is the only factor that causes i guy to drop 35 runs in defensive metrics is fairly ridiculous imo. Hunter may have injury issues related to age which may be mitigated in the future by recovery, better conditioning, and/or rest/platooning. For a "geriatric" his offensive skills were still very solid.

5. I am neither. Just not locked into the myopic view that a 35 run drop off in his fielding metrics is solely due to 1-2 years in age and that Hunter is destined to be a -19/-20 run defender (worse by your assumption of the age distribution curve) in RF going forward, because you know he's 38/39/40 or whatever number you're at now.

Feel free to have the last word.

[Mayor McCheese]

For what its worth, MLBTR has been pretty accurate with their contract predictions so far. Like people scoffed at their prediction of Billy Butler getting 3/30, but then he got it. They know the market well.

I'll take 2/$22MM for Hunter over a 4/$38MM+ deal for Markakis.

[Guest]

Torii Hunter - OF - Tigers

According to Mark Whicker of the Orange County Register, free agent Torii Hunter is considering the Orioles, Rangers, Mariners and "maybe" the Twins.

That list is of interest for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is that it suggests Hunter has a short list of potential landing spots. Also of note is the absence of the Royals, one of the teams believed to be in the mix. The only certainty at this point is that Hunter won't be going back to the Tigers.

Related: Orioles, Twins, Mariners,

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Torii Hunter was waiting for son outside ND locker room. A free agent, he's looking at BALT, TEX, SEA, maybe MINN</p>— Mark Whicker (@MWhicker03LANG) <a href="

">November 30, 2014</a></blockquote>

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