Ever since the Detroit Tigers decided to not re sign Torii Hunter, the rumors have been swirling regarding where he is gonna go. One of those rumors is that he is interested in signing with the Minnesota Twins.
Twins fans may remember that he used to play for the Twins. From 1997 to 2007, Hunter patrolled center field at the now torn down Metrodome. During that time, he became a fan favorite, earning the nickname “spider man” after the way he robbed opponents of home runs by jumping against the fence.
After the 2007 season, the Twins decided to not re sign him, and he signed with the Los Angeles Angels. He played for the Angels from 2007 to 2012. After his contract with Los Angeles ran out, he came back to the American League Central, signing a two year deal with Detroit.
Hunter returning to Minnesota would be a major advantage for a team who has finished at the bottom of the Central since 2011, and are struggling to fill Target Field with fans. Not only would he bring fans to the stadium, but the Twins could use him to mentor young outfield prospects like Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. Similar to what Kirby Puckett did to Hunter in his early days.
The Twins and Torii Hunter have a common interest in a reunion. http://t.co/VhnAa75dq8
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 23, 2014
However, there are some major hurdles that remain before Twins fans can start celebrating his return. The first is the lack of salary cap space the Twins have to work with. Hunter made 14 million dollars last year with Detroit, and the Twins only have approximately 20-25 million to spend this offseason. If they sign Hunter, they would really be making a commitment to winning soon.
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