Resign Torii Hunter

[jokin]

 

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

 

 

Because most of us come to give prays to Caesar, not to berry him?

[spinowner]

I asked Phil Miller about this at a recent Strib web chat. I said that I loved Torii but we better not sign him next year. He told me I should try to get used to the idea.

I just hope TR just says no. I get the impression that he has been a positive influence on Hicks but I think after this year that's no longer a needed function. Wish he could have had more time with Buxton, but I think that young man should do well without Torii's help. We have at least four young outfielders who are or should be ready for the bigs. We should thank Torii profusely for his service, throw a big party and wish him well in his retirement.

[Craig Arko]

Offer half the money and don't promise a starting position. If he accepts, fine. If he doesn't accept, fine.

 

For the Twins, he makes a good 5th outfielder, occasional DH, and bench bat with some pop. For Torii, this team is liable to be pretty good next year and he may want a piece of that action.

[Jham]

 

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

 

I guess I'm not confident that Arcia is a better defender than Hunter next year.  I'm not convinced that Buxton, Hicks or Rosario will be better hitters next year.  I'm not convinced that Plouffe, Mauer, or Sano can play outfield at all.  We've gotten ourselves into pickles by over-relying on youth before, I remember similar arguments for not re-signing Cuddy, but having a Plan B is usually a good thing.  In this case, I can't honestly say Hunter would be a bad Plan B if everything goes wrong.  What do we do next season if Buxton gets hurt again, Arcia pulls an Arcia, and Rosario pulls a Danny Santana?  Any one of those scenarios makes Hunter a useful piece.  I'd rather have him platooning out there than Robinson (who's been a decent bench guy in his own right). In a year we should compete, I like the thought of being able to plug in a vet like Hunter.  

 

[breesers]

I don't understand the strong reservations to signing Hunter for another year, as long as it is not for a starting position.  Having a guy like him on the bench as a sub, DH, or PH is invaluable.  Do we want to keep using Escobar, Nunez, and players of that caliber as DH or our main PH options? 

 

I also believe his leadership is still valuable.  One year does not change the entire team into strong leaders.  You need that presence in the dugout to keep enriching that atmosphere.  Somone has to instigate it for it to continue.

[Rosterman]

You gotta say, he was one of the bright spots of this season. He energized the fanbase. He put up decent numebrs. He looks to be a leader on the field. And no matter what you say or think, he has been equal to most in play so far this year.

 

Next year? Depends on who you want in the outfield and the DH. Is Vargas still a possibility. Is Santana a man with no spot to land. Is Arcia a DH and Hicks a regular?

 

Would you sign Hunetr solely as a part-time player, becnh bat? And for how much? $5 million? $6 million.? If youa re going to spend $10, I could think of any number of otehr areas that we could do that (bring back Pelfrey, re-sign Fien and Duensing, foe xexample, and still have some change left over to offer an invite to camp to Jared Burton).

 

Of course, the rest of the season will show. Is he cycled out of the outfield with Buxton playing as a regular and the call-up of Arcia, at least in September. Is he the DH, but then does Sano go to third and Plouffe asks "waaaait-a-minute!?"

 

I do have to say it will be a fun off-season in Twinsville. It really will, as the 40 piece jigsaw puzzle is found to have 46 pieces, instead of missing a few pieces.

[Zachary]

Minnesota professional sports already tested their luck with a swan song athlete coming back for a second go around. That would be Favre after the ever depressing 2009 NFC championship game and that following season was a train wreck