Should Torii Return?

[mudcat14]

I must admit, I was very much in the Pro corner for bringing Torii back in 2016, until I read this quote;

 

•Hunter does say he’s not interested in a part time role, “Eighty one games? I’m not coming back for that.”

 

I love the attitude and atmosphere he has been credited for bringing to the team, but don't want him taking AB's away from the next wave of Twin OF's. 

 

I guess I have to vote: NO

 

 

[USAFChief]

No.

[Squirrel]

No, in any role, even if he were willing.

[Craig Arko]

Not as a player.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Maybe.

[KGB]

Maybe for me. A lot will be determined by the off-season. I would hate to see Sano as the DH next year. He is too young to get stuck there. Twins need to make some roster decisions, so bring back a 20 homerun hitter shouldn't be ruled out when you don't have any other proven option.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I wasn't *entirely* against the idea of Hunter coming back in a 200 PA role - I wouldn't do it myself but I'm not 100% against it, either - but if he's not willing to play the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi to the 2016 OF (that includes dying midseason and letting the kids take over), then he shouldn't even be a consideration.

[TheLeviathan]

We have a lot of these threads.

 

And the answer is no.

[Platoon]

Nada. We do have a lot of these posts, but that was the first quote I saw from him that clearly said playing part time was not acceptable. And if it would not be next year, you can about imagine what the negotiations were last year.

[spinowner]

Hunter understands what the Twins will want to do with their outfield in 2016. I'd think that we'll want to have four of Rosario, Buxton, Hicks, Arcia, and Kepler. And maybe even Robinson. We certainly shouldn't commit to Hunter as a regular right fielder. I'd vote no.

[Monkeypaws]

Mudcat, can you blame a guy for wanting to play?

 

Given his season, he probably believes he can has as good or better a season next year, and for a 40 year old, he did pretty well. 

 

I think he'd be a nice bench player, 3-4 games a week, leadership and intagibles. Ironically, his numbers would probably be as good if he accepted such a role.

 

 

Coming back to the Twins this season was the perfect situation, given the state of our 2014 outfield. Torii probably sees the writing on the wall: Hicks, Rosario, Buxton, Arcia, Kepler. Not exactly Schaeffer, Mastrioni, Wilingham.

 

He'll probably find someone willing to promise him a starters role. Just hope it isn't TR.

[mudcat14]

 

Mudcat, can you blame a guy for wanting to play?

 

Certainly not.  I'm only saying that for the 2016 Twins, his only real value is as a part-time player & full-time mentor.  If that's not a role he's willing to accept, then thank you and goodbye.

[Rosterman]

Can we trust Sano at third, which means we can trade Plouffe. But we are shedding 20+ home runs. Then who do we have DH. Arcia or Vargas. Vargas would be a nice bench bat because he can play first. Arcia should be given further opportunities to be the 4th outfielder/DH...you never know when one of the outfield guys might go down. Of course, we can assume Buxton will start the season at AAA.

 

So, it depends what the Twins do with Plouffe, basically. Then we could pencil in Hunter in some capacity, with the thought that he probably won't last the season as a regular, but would start the season as a regular with Arcia in right, Hicks in center, Hunter at DH (will he insist on playing the field more often than not).

 

But, will he give us some of the same stats as this year, or will Arcia/Vargas come into their own.

 

It ain't easy being a general manager with money to spend.

 

Now, Nolasco.......

 

 

[Monkeypaws]

Dick and Bert are making it sound like it's the Twins or nothing, and that he's undecided on whether to continue.

 

 

Not quite what I had understood the situation to be...

[Monkeypaws]

 

Certainly not.  I'm only saying that for the 2016 Twins, his only real value is as a part-time player & full-time mentor.  If that's not a role he's willing to accept, then thank you and goodbye.

We are in agreement - I just was saying, this guy probably thinks he has more to offer than a part-time role. He wasn't great out there, but he was no joke either.

 

One last edit - I've always loved the way the Twins would bring Oliva, Carew, Killebrew to spring training or other team affairs. It's important to maintain the organization's DNA to have exemplar Twins still involved. Torii would be a welcome addition to this tradition.

[Boom Boom]

No, but it will happen.

 

Buxton will be in AAA, so there will be an opening.

[HitInAPinch]

Well, I wouldn't be so fast to jump ship on Torii Hunter.  I don't believe anything is sure beyond Rosario and Hicks.  And there still maybe question marks about both.  I believe both Arcia and Buxton are big question marks at this point.  Some intrepid TD writers would probably find someone who'll talk about Arcia.  I'm really curious what happened, but did read an article that it was another back problem.  From what little I saw of Buxton and how he was used at the end of the year, he's bound for significant AAA play.

 

I believe the young outfielders will need to step-up and actually block Hunter's return next year.

[DaveW]

Hunter has already said (twins baseball.com yesterday) that he has no desire to come back and be a part time player "why would I want to play 81 games? No thanks"

 

If thats the case, you can't bring him back. Arcia, Buxton and Kepler all need at bats at some point next year. If he would be fine with a part time/platoon with Arcia to start the year? Fine. If not? Time to move on.

[savvyspy]

Absolutely not.

[Thrylos]

no

[RedBull34]

Yes.  .

[Reider]

For me it comes down to whether or not Buxton is ready to take that center field position. If he is, then it's him in center field, Rosario in left and Hicks in right. Hunter could then be the 4th OF/DH/mentor, but if he doesn't want that role, then you can't force him to take it, right?

 

If Buxton isn't ready to be a starting MLB center fielder, then there is a case for possibly bringing Hunter back for one more year, at least to spring training. He would have to earn a spot just like everyone else.

 

It's easy to say no and just go with the young guys, but Hunter did have a decent 40 year old season, so I"m not going to just close the door completely. I think the Twins should keep their options open and see how the off season plays out. If Hunter ends up retiring, I wouldn't be against him being a coach or working in the front office.

[sftwinsfan]

While he was overall better than I was expecting this year and I do value his leadership with the younger guys-I would not bring him back if he demands it to be in a starting role.  It would be nice to keep him on the team as an extra OF and to have a bench bat that could yank one once in awhile but I don't want him blocking the younger guys.  I wonder if the Twins already approached him about more of a part-time role next season and that's what brought about his comment.  

[curt1965]

No way, Jose!!

[darin617]

You gotta give Torii Hunter respect for taking the pressure off the Twins to resign him. There is no reason he should be playing full time anymore. He was a great influence for the young players and can still do what ever he wants.

[kab21]

I would be fine with Hunter and Arcia platooning and Buxton and Kepler opening the season in AAA.  There are still a lot of question marks in the OF. 

 

Hicks had one hot month, one alright month (.701 OPS) and 3 terrible months. 

Rosario doesn't walk and pitchers might adjust to him.  Can he adjust?

Arcia completely fell apart.

Kepler and Buxton are awesome but it is still questionable when they will hit MLB pitching

Injuries happen

 

But if Hunter is against a platoon or part time role then there isn't an option I guess.  He shouldn't be a full time starter.

[stringer bell]

Many considerations here: 1) Torii will be 41 a midseason of 2016. Is it possible he could fall off a cliff sometime. I suspect that a longer deeper drought and a lower high would both be possible. Hunter's overall numbers were below average, thanks mostly to a long slump sometime after the All-Star break running until late August.   2) Are there adequate backups in case one of the projected starters struggles or is injured? I'm projecting an outfield of Hicks flanked by Arcia and Rosario to start the season. That leaves Kepler and Buxton in AAA as likely replacements, both with a chance to force their way into the lineup before the All-Star break. 3)  How much would Hunter's absence mean in the clubhouse? He had a positive effect noted by almost everyone connected to the club. Can others step up?

 

My final take is that the club could and should let Torii go, hopefully into retirement. It was a good signing by Ryan (albeit expensive), but one year is enough.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Torii better not come back, after the team subjected fans to multiple video montages of him and his career at the season finale today at Target Field.  Then a camera found him in the dugout and compelled the crowd to maintain applause and Torii to emerge and acknowledge it (not that fans wouldn't willingly cheer him and he deserves some recognition, but it was clearly a calculated effort by the Twins to force the gesture).  I guess it was a blessing in disguise that we were already eliminated by the season finale, it would have been weird inserting that stuff into an important game on Sunday.

 

I guess it's an open secret that he absolutely will not be coming back.

[Steve Penz]

No and it is a blessing that he made the statement that mudcat quoted. Hopefully it helps the front office and the fanbase to see that he would not work. He would only fit as a part-time player and full-time mentor. It is better for all if he moves on.

[Kwak]

NO.  It's time to move on.  Whatever good things he could provide--he has done so.  There is no need to repeat second grade.