Resign Torii Hunter

[jorgenswest]

Should the Twins resign Torii Hunter for 2016?

 

Torii is going to keep playing until finally he has one or possibly two poor seasons. That could start next year. Maybe it will be the year after. Do the Twins want to be left holding him until he is a big void in RF? 

 

I suppose they could wait until the offseason and see how he holds up through September. His July numbers 195/241/592 are underwhelming after two good months. The reason it is important to consider now is Oswaldo Arcia. The Twins can afford to have Arcia in RF with any combination of Rosario/Hicks/Buxton in LF and CF. It would not be a shock that he figures it out and puts up good numbers next year. 

 

I am hoping they keep Arcia at the deadline. That starts with a plan to let Torii go after the season. Next year should be the opportunity for Arcia with back up plans in a Hicks/Buxton/Rosario outfield followed by Kepler and Walker needing a shot at the major league level. Hunter would not be in my plan.

[DaveW]

No.

[tobi0040]

Yes, as the first base coach

[Brock Beauchamp]

Nope. Nope. Nope. I appreciate what Hunter has done for the 2015 Twins - more than most around here, I'd wager - but that doesn't mean it needs to happen again. It's time for the team to move on with younger players.

[tobi0040]

 

Nope. Nope. Nope. I appreciate what Hunter has done for the 2015 Twins - more than most around here, I'd wager - but that doesn't mean it needs to happen again. It's time for the team to move on with younger players.

 

Is he going to be better next year than two of Rosario/Hicks/Kepler/Buxton/potentially Sano/Plouffe?   If you can't honestly say yes than this is a no brainer.  Absolutely not.

[TheLeviathan]

This thread title wins the "not funny" award for 2015.

[Mike Sixel]

Re-sign, or resign? I vote the ladder.....

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Resign? Yes.

Re-sign? No.

[tobi0040]

 

This thread title wins the "not funny" award for 2015.

 

Yes.  Because we all know this is a possibility.

[Winston Smith]

I'd call up the Mets and try trading him today. We have more outfield/dh types than spots at this point.

[tobi0040]

 

I'd call up the Mets and try trading him today. We have more outfield/dh types than spots at this point.

Let's get a Hunter for Wheeler going on this thread. 

 

We already have a Reyes for Nolasco on another.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Let's get a Hunter for Wheeler going on this thread. 

 

We already have a Reyes for Nolasco on another.

Which still isn't as absurd as Shields for Nolasco.

[nytwinsfan]

No, unless as a coach of some kind. It doesn't make sense. We have at least four good young outfielders knocking on the door (arguably as many as six).  Let them develop and use that $10 million to get a very good relief pitcher or two.

[ckrolak]

I won't call for Torii to resign.  I'll leave that up to him and the organization to work it out.

[PopRiveter]

I thought he was a good fit this year because he'd be a fun storyline early and a trade chip for a struggling team now. The team success has changed this picture a ton. I don't see how he would be a fit next year. If they trade Arcia (which I think would be a huge mistake), then I could see room for him. I think it would be the wrong choice, but I could imagine it happening.

 

All that said, I have no trouble with the team paying on a "goodwill" contract to a player who has given so much over so many years, but I don't want to see mlb-ready, up-and-comers blocked. Read "Arcia."

[Kwak]

Hunter was signed to "mentor OFers" and change the clubhouse atmosphere.  Done.  I wonder if he is now repeating stories of the "non-adventures" of July trades when he was a Twin in the '00s? Because that wouldn't be quite so "positive".  In short, his job is done and either buy him out of the rest of this season or ask him if he will accept a trade.  NO to next year.

[HitInAPinch]

In theory, Hunter should only been a spot starter / DH / pinch hitter.  The dreadful lack of OF's caused him to be played more in the field than he probably should have.  As a veteran hitter off the bench/DH I can see it.  Otherwise, why would you want to take away development time and space for a young OF'er??

[Danchat]

 

In theory, Hunter should only been a spot starter / DH / pinch hitter.  The dreadful lack of OF's caused him to be played more in the field than he probably should have.  As a veteran hitter off the bench/DH I can see it.  Otherwise, why would you want to take away development time and space for a young OF'er??

In theory? TR gave him 10.5 million dollars to be the starter. He's playing RF as much as TR intended. 

 

I'm afraid TR and Molly don't care about the development of the young guys and they'll sign Hunter again for next season. Please don't... all of the comments above can explain why.

[Platoon]

If Vegas put out an over under on the Twinks resigning Hunter, I would take the over on 99.8%! The only chance he is not re-upped is if the team keeps losing, he gets disgusted, sees an easy in to a contender, and asks for a trade. That possibility diminishes by the second. There is little history of TR looking to younger players when a suitable veteran is available and still ambulatory. While I am not advocating or judging each of the following competitions, tthey will mostly play out that way: Plouffe/Sano, May/Nolasco, Dozier/Polanco, MLB bullpen/MiLB bullpen, Hunter/Arcia/Kepler, and Suzuki/fill in the blank! It's the Twins Way!

[Mike Sixel]

Still bummed no one has ripped me for ladder......

[HitInAPinch]

 

In theory? TR gave him 10.5 million dollars to be the starter. He's playing RF as much as TR intended. 

 

I'm afraid TR and Molly don't care about the development of the young guys and they'll sign Hunter again for next season. Please don't... all of the comments above can explain why.

I don't believe it was in TR's plan to have Hunter play 75 of 89 games in RF. 

 

The only known other team that was after Hunter was Texas.  And that was as a reserve.  The question is:  why did Ryan pay Hunter $10mil, plus a no trade contract when, apparently, no one else wanted him? 

 

And the comment about TR and Molly not caring about developing the younger guys is complete nonsense.  Hicks, Rosario and Sano ring a bell?

[drjim]

 

I don't believe it was in TR's plan to have Hunter play 75 of 89 games in RF. 

 

The only known other team that was after Hunter was Texas.  And that was as a reserve.  The question is:  why did Ryan pay Hunter $10mil, plus a no trade contract when, apparently, no one else wanted him? 

 

And the comment about TR and Molly not caring about developing the younger guys is complete nonsense.  Hicks, Rosario and Sano ring a bell?

 

KC too.

[Mike Sixel]

They paid him more than 10MM a year, gave him a no trade clause, moved Arcia out of RF, and didn't expect him to be a full time starter? That's........hard to believe.

[Tibs]

I was very happy they signed him this year. I don't like the idea of signing him next year though.

[drjim]

 

I was very happy they signed him this year. I don't like the idea of signing him next year though.

 

Agree with this.

[rghrbek]

He should not be signed under any circumstances next year.  I know we need someone on the Twins commercials to play the part of a buffoon (maybe Joe can do that next year), but we need that RF spot freed up. 

 

However, the over under mentioned above is completely accurate!

[Jham]

 

Still bummed no one has ripped me for ladder......

 

We all thought you meant you'd take a ladder with a fishing net as a right fielder over Hunter... As would most of the posters in this thread.

 

I'm fine with re-signing Hunter as long as it isn't to be a starter any more.  He's performed admirably, and may continue to do so.  If he wants to come back and play in spots/ provide insurance for injuries, failures, or trades of younger guys, I'm cool with him.  Out of the things that are different about this year's team from last, Hunter is really the only different player.

[Mike Sixel]

 

We all thought you meant you'd take a ladder with a fishing net as a right fielder over Hunter... As would most of the posters in this thread.

 

I'm fine with re-signing Hunter as long as it isn't to be a starter any more.  He's performed admirably, and may continue to do so.  If he wants to come back and play in spots/ provide insurance for injuries, failures, or trades of younger guys, I'm cool with him.  Out of the things that are different about this year's team from last, Hunter is really the only different player.

 

I only like the first part, I hate the second part.....no way I'd re-sign him. None.

[Danchat]

 

I don't believe it was in TR's plan to have Hunter play 75 of 89 games in RF. 

 

The only known other team that was after Hunter was Texas.  And that was as a reserve.  The question is:  why did Ryan pay Hunter $10mil, plus a no trade contract when, apparently, no one else wanted him? 

 

And the comment about TR and Molly not caring about developing the younger guys is complete nonsense.  Hicks, Rosario and Sano ring a bell?

 

They paid him more than 10MM a year, gave him a no trade clause, moved Arcia out of RF, and didn't expect him to be a full time starter? That's........hard to believe.

They definitely signed him to play every day. For a team that should be playing young guys, it was a questionable move, but it has worked out so far. 

 

Also, I didn't mean that TR and Molly don't care about development in general. You're right, they definitely do care. However, when it comes to RF, TR screwed this up. First, he moved Arcia to left, making him even worse defensively, and now Hunter is blocking Arcia and Kepler. (yes, they both may not be quite ready yet, but honestly Arcia shouldn't still be in AAA. He needs to work out his kinks in the majors)

 

[jokin]

 

Yes.  Because we all know this is a possibility.

 

Probably more like a probability (unfortunately).