Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
July 12, 2007
End of the Hunter

Bugs and Cranks laments the possible loss of Torii Hunter:

Make no mistake, despite Santana's Cy Young's, Mauer's batting title, and Morneau's MVP -- this is Torii Hunter's team, and it would be hard to imagine baseball in Minnesota without him. And the dilemma sits squarely on the desk of GM Terry Ryan, a man whose brilliance has had quite a little bit to do with four division titles in five years. That said, the decisions aren't easy for a small market club whose owner is a billionaire that won't spend any of his own money on the club -- Carl Pohlad.

Oh please. Hunter's career OBA is .324 and his stolen base percentage is barely break even. If Hunter's not around, it quickly becomes Morneau, Mauer or Santana's team. Torii's a good centerfielder, but I'll take a little less defense for more times on base. Minnesota fans shouldn't sweat this.


Posted by David Pinto at 03:19 PM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

hunter is going to be the most overpaid guy to sign this offseason.

Posted by: Tim at July 12, 2007 03:48 PM

Hunter's agent should include this clip on his reel this offseason. :)

Hunter Video

Posted by: maynard at July 12, 2007 04:00 PM

He gets out a lot and his defense is nothing like it was 5 years ago...he's going to be paid far too much, no doubt.

Posted by: Al at July 12, 2007 04:02 PM

So does this make him a poor team's Andruw Jones? Yikes.

Posted by: Nate at July 12, 2007 04:22 PM

David, are you ignoring the fact that Hunter is one of the best slugging CFs in the game or what? Hunter doesn't get on base as much as he should, but he's a terrific hitter when compared to the pool of CFs. Is he worth what he'll ultimately get? No. But that doesn't mean that Pohlad couldn't have signed him to extension before this point, for far less than he'll receive this winter.

Posted by: Michael at July 12, 2007 07:23 PM

Michael,

His slugging goes up and down, and being over 30 I suspect it will be going more down than up. I'm perfectly fine with the Twins keeping him if they desire. I just take exception that the team will fall apart without him.

Posted by: David Pinto at July 12, 2007 07:26 PM

Think: Drop-off.

The Twins have no one currently in their system who can play the CF position. We don't know that Terry Ryan will have the budget to trade for an adequate replacement -- remember, this team needs to resign Morneau and Santana.

Despite his lame OBP, Hunter has become a more consistent hitter in the last year and a half. Take his 30 HRs out of the Minnesota offense, which is pretty weak anyway, and Mauer, Morneau and Cuddyer will all suffer.

You can debate the merits of giving any player over 30 a long-term deal, but make no mistake, Hunter's loss would have a huge impact on the Twins...

Posted by: flounder at July 13, 2007 01:47 AM

Ryan doesn't need to resign Morneau. He's not that much better than league average. First basemen almost never are.

Posted by: NBarnes at July 13, 2007 02:38 AM
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