Reports: Torii Hunter signs two-year, $26-million deal with Tigers
Free agent outfielder Torii Hunter has signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, reports FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal:
Torii to #Tigers. Two-year agreement, pending physical.—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 14, 2012
The deal is worth $26 million, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick:
Hunter will get $26M over two years, source says. #tigerrs—
Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 14, 2012
Hunter was expected to make a quick decision on where to sign, with the Dodgers, Yankees, Rangers, Red Sox, White Sox, Phillies and Mariners also reportedly interested. Rosenthal added that Detroit’s proximity to Notre Dame, where Hunter’s son has committed to play football beginning next year, was a factor in his decision, as the city is just a 3 1/2-hour drive from South Bend, Ind.
The 37-year-old Hunter spent the last five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He hit a career-high .313 in 2012 and posted 16 home runs and 92 RBI.
The move to the Tigers, the reigning American League champions, would slot the four-time All-Star in right field next to young outfielders Austin Jackson and Avisail Garcia, with Quintin Berry and Brennan Boesch also in the mix. Hunter is widely considered a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse.
I've always been a fan of Torii Hunter and seeing him coming to Detroit makes me happy. With him and the return of Victor Martinez, maybe the Tigers can repeat as AL Champs in 2013 and perhaps not embarrass themselves in the World Series again. That effort vs. San Francisco was atrocious.