Twins pick up Hunter's option

[yanksphan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061010/sp_nm/baseball_twins_dc_1

<form class="yqin" action="http://yq.search.yahoo.com/search" method="post">
The Minnesota Twins have picked up the $12 million option on center fielder Torii Hunter for next season, the team said on Tuesday.</form>

[GimeMoMuny]

Lotsa love in the air today.

[Saxmania]

Wow. They're paying for popularity, to some extent, rather than production. Can't help but think that one of their pitching prospects (Slowey?) could have packaged for a decent young centerfielder for a fraction of the price, which would have allowed them to spend some money on real thunder.

Hunter's a great ad for the club, but also a health concern on that turf and at that age. He's also never been a great hitter. $12m is a lot, even if you take into account the fans he brings into the park. Twins fans will be happy now, but I suspect that in July they may have some regrets.

Be seeing you,

Saxmania

[spyglass]

I see he's getting minimum wage :lol:

[Yankeees]

I think Torii is the catalyst for that ballclub as far as speaking, quotes, etc goes.

[nnysiny]

costly but a move they had to make, like the Pedro option

[STNYY]

Ladies and gentlemen, revenue sharing at work. Now your small market team can overpay for it's popular players, just like the big boys!

[RollingWave]

Nice seeing that we aren't the only team that overpays :P

[yanksphan]

Ladies and gentlemen, revenue sharing at work. Now your small market team can overpay for it's popular players, just like the big boys!

I feel kind of bad. I hope Mr.Hunter can afford to eat on minimum wage, and Mr.Pohlad can absorb such a huge investment.

The entire state of Minnesota is in my thoughts. :(

[yankeebot]

I'm glad Torii is not a Yankee but I like him and I like the Twins. Good for him.

[Mezmerize]

Am I the only one who thinks this may be a precursor for the Twins to move Hunter? I still think its a possibility.

[LisaNicole]

The Yanks could always use a ninth outfielder ;)

[Stick Michael]

Am I the only one who thinks this may be a precursor for the Twins to move Hunter? I still think its a possibility.

Mez,

The thought crossed my mind, but I'd be a bit surprised if they did. There aren't many teams in a market for a centerfielder who's owed $12 million and will likely post, at best, respectable, but not top-tier offensive numbers. His reputation as an outstanding fielder is well-deserved, even if he's made a couple of costly errors in the postseason, but I have a hard time believing the Twins would get good value for an outfielder whose OPS usually floats around .800 or so. He may not justify his entire salary with his on-the-field production, but if Pohlad avoided a PR nightmare and, in the process, aided his campaign for a new ballpark then it may be money well-spent.

James

[DontHateOnNumber2]

Good for them, gives them time to either negotiate a long-term deal to keep him there or allows them to deal him for value if 2007 doesn't go their way.