FINALLY! We're linked with a GOOD player!

by CATALYST on Nov 20, 2007 9:41 PM CST Comment 14 comments

We recently named the White Sox, Dodgers, and Rangers as the teams in hot pursuit of free agent center fielder Torii Hunter. However, those aren't the only clubs after him.

Yahoo's Jeff Passan talks of how Hunter was impressed with the Royals' pitch. Passan also adds the Brewers and Nationals as teams interested in Hunter.

Out of all these clubs, this is the first I've heard of Milwaukee being in the mix. Perhaps if the Brewers let Francisco Cordero walk they'll spend the money on Torii. They could then move Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left field.

Hunter may sign by the end of next week.

Me like! Me like!

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eh

older player with declining skill set, who was never that good anyway, and will get mega dollars. me no like me no like :)

by sheeter on Nov 20, 2007 9:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Meh

If we were going to get anything out of him signing I'd rather he signs with the Royals or Nationals so we could pick up David DeJesus or Ryan Church. Then again, it's not like Gabe Gross is anything to sneeze at so why we'd really have to upgrade I don't know.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Nov 20, 2007 11:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wow.

I'm surprised. 2 out of 2 hating the idea.

TED IS TO NED WHAT CHENEY IS TO BUSH.

by CATALYST on Nov 20, 2007 11:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

umm

make that 3 for 3 :)

"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue

by Michael M on Nov 20, 2007 11:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

4/4

i really dont want to be stuck with him for 4+ years at 15 million a year, we have more important things to worry about.

by DoubleJ235 on Nov 21, 2007 9:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

4.5/5

im a little torn; it would be cool to get a big free agent; and it's been exciting to read about the brew being strong possibilities for the first time.

as much as i would love to have hunter on the team next year; im not sure i would want him in 4 years. but maybe thats looking too far ahead. this team has a shot to win now; and this would be a great upgrade NOW.

are these guys getting full trade clauses now; cause say in 2 years laporta is ready and hunter has had a few good seasons; wouldnt we be able to trade him?

by Jamie in LA on Nov 21, 2007 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Some Projections

Torii Hunter (age 32)

ZIPS: .276/.329/.462, .791 OPS
CHONE: .282/.345/.491, .836 OPS

Gabe Gross (age 28) - On the team.

ZIPS: .264/.358/.426, .784 OPS
CHONE: .254/.347/.416, .763 OPS

Joe Dillon (age 32) - Joltin' Joe!

ZIPS: .280/.338/.449, .787 OPS
CHONE: .280/.356/.492, .848 OPS

Randy Winn (age 34) - suggested as a trade acquisition

ZIPS: .282/.338/.429, .767 OPS
CHONE: .285/.346/.435, .781 OPS

Ryan Church (age 29) - rumored as a trade target

ZIPS: .271/.348/.473, .821 OPS
CHONE: .254/.337/.427, .764 OPS

Carl Crawford (age 26) - ditto.

ZIPS: .316/.356/.479, .835 OPS
CHONE: .303/.347/.464, .810 OPS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Obviously the CHONE system really likes Joe Dillon's end to 2007, though it's not like he hasn't torn up AAA before. I really like the sponsor comment on the 32-year-old Dillon's Baseball-Reference.com page: "I think I speak for every baseball fan when I say there are big things in the future for young Joe Dillon. Best of luck in 2008 and beyond!"

Even if you put your faith more in the ZIPS system, why would you go after Torii Hunter when everyone on the list but Randy Winn gives you about what he gives you, everyone but Dillon is younger (technically, Joe is 15 days younger), and the guys already in our system will likely be about a dozen times cheaper combined than Hunter?

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Nov 20, 2007 11:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We would improve

defensively though. Hall got better in center as the season went on, but I don't think he was a match for even an aging Hunter, and while I'm not a fan of moving Braun to left, I can't pretend that Hall isn't likely to be better defensively than Braun at that position in 2008. Braun in left is a complete unknown, but I can't imagine he won't struggle out there for at least a couple of months. You'd essentially be upgrading 2 positions defensively, while downgrading a 3rd, but the downgrade in left is probably inevitable with Jenkins departure.

In any event, this probably isn't proof of anything other than a due diligence phone call by Melvin. Agents obviously want the pool of teams interested in their players to be as large as possible, or at least be perceived that way, so the interest might not be much more than 30 second conversation in which Hunter's name came up.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Nov 21, 2007 6:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll give you that

But why pay ten times the money for an aging guy? If the team's that concerned about defense they should just run Tony Gwynn out there.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Nov 21, 2007 7:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much

Hunter would be another bad signing. With a smaller market team you need to spend your dollars wisely. Hunter wouldn't be enough of upgrade to justify the large amount of money it would take to get him.

by kingcharlesxii on Nov 21, 2007 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The offense is there

The starting pitching can work

The bullpen needs a ton of help

Torii Hunter is like adding more bread to a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. We need some more jelly.

by MunichBrats on Nov 20, 2007 11:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'd be happy to have Hunter

though not for how much it's going to cost to get him.

That's the problem with "good" free agents: by the time they've established themselves to be good and are eligible for free agency, they're in a position to demand a long-term contract for much more than they're worth (see Çordero, CoCo).

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Nov 20, 2007 11:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Add me to the list

Let me get this straight. We are going to make our highest paid player (because Hunter would be) a 32 year old center fielder who is looking for at least 5 years. Do you really want to pay 15 mil for a 37 year old Torii Hunter?

Ryan Braun is the Ed Hochuli of Third Basemen. Prince is now Chubber Lang

by hyattff2003 on Nov 21, 2007 8:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs