Author Topic: Torii Hunter Could Get Traded To The Yankees (Read 323 times)

Low Key · « **on:** June 23, 2007, 12:52:54 AM »

Ignore the Kevin Garnett shit. There is plenty of that discussion going on elsewhere on the board.

By Patrick Reusse, Star Tribune

The Timberwolves have Kevin Garnett and are a franchise without hope. The Twins have Torii Hunter and are no better than the seventh-best team in the American League.

Kevin McHale and Terry Ryan are general managers who should face reality and make trades as soon as possible, yet both can be expected to sit on their thumbs -- McHale because of stubbornness and Ryan because of timidity.

[With] Hunter, there's no one who has watched a Twins game in the past decade that would prefer a Torii trade. He's a character, he's a competitor and he's a better hitter the past two seasons than at any time in his career.

He also will turn 32 next month. No matter what platitudes you read from Ryan or other Twins officials on the possibility of bringing back Hunter, let's not be idiotic here:

Larry Reynolds is Hunter's agent, and he doesn't offer discounts. It will take four years at nearly $60 million to sign Hunter. You can't sign a 32-year-old player -- no matter how popular and productive -- for a deal like that when Justin Morneau, 27, and Michael Cuddyer, 28, will need big-dollar, multiyear contracts in the next couple of years.

Morneau, Joe Mauer and Cuddyer ... that's the core of the franchise for the next half-dozen years.

The logical trade would send Hunter to the Yankees for outfielder Melky Cabrera and prospects such as pitcher Tyler Clippard and third baseman Eric Duncan (who has to hit some day after all those rave reviews).

The time is approaching for Ryan to end this dual charade -- that the Twins are a contender, and Hunter might be re-signed -- and make a Chuck Knoblauch-style deal.

He won't, of course, and Torii will walk away in the offseason.

rik · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2007, 10:06:03 AM »

I like Hunter, would have liked to see him in a Dodgers uniform. We all know that's not happening though.

Vegasmac25 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2007, 08:12:30 PM »

and that is the reason why I FUCKING HATE BASEBALL.

Low Key · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2007, 12:31:53 PM »

Just heard yesterday that Torii is willing to take a pay cut to remain with the Twins. He's a little put off that the Twins haven't come to him with any offer yet though. Hopefully with him saying that, the Twins will stop being stupid and resign him.