Could Be the End for Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter, beloved Twin for nine seasons and a member since he was 17, may have played his last game as one on Sunday. Hunter, 32, is at the end of his five year 44 million dollar deal. He will be one of the highest sought after free agents when the season ends, with Texas and New York being likely buyers. Hunter, earlier this season turned down a three year 45 million dollar deal, seeking a longer contract. He is looking for a four to a five year deal, and would like to stay with Minnesota, and get a chance to play in the New Staduim. However, it will be tough for the Twins to match the price of other teams once Hunter becomes a free agent. Torii Hunter was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 1993 amateur draft, out of Pine Bluffs High School, in Arkansas. The two-time all-star and six-time gold glove winner stood as a fan favorite and a spirtual heir to Kirby Puckett as the Twins centerfielder. "The Twins have been my whole life" Hunter said in an interview in the Pioneer Press. "If you leave something that you have been around for a long time, you grow to love it and cherish it. And when it goes away, it hurts and that's how I feel. It's like the Twins are stamped on my heart."