Post by Zack Attack Troll on Feb 22, 2007 2:25:07 GMT -5
www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/16744741.htm
He'd be a hot commodity this offseason. He could get something like 4 years/52 million.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — When he left spring training last year, Torii Hunter figured he never again would occupy the corner locker at Hammond Stadium he inherited from Kirby Puckett in the mid-1990s.
But there Hunter was again Tuesday afternoon, holding court in the corner after his arrival at camp and answering the same questions he did last year regarding his future with the Twins.
But things are clearer this year: This almost certainly is the beginning of the end of Hunter's tenure in Minnesota.
Hunter, 31, is entering the final year of his contract after the Twins exercised a $12 million option. He said there are too many other key contracts on the Twins' priority list and knows there probably won't be enough money left over to keep him in Minnesota.
"I ain't stupid," said Hunter, reiterating that he would like to spend his entire career with the Twins. "I know how this organization works. But (team owner Carl) Pohlad might just say, 'I'll sell one of my buildings,' so anything's possible. But (contractually) I'm here for one more year, so I'm trying to enjoy it and win a World Series."
Hunter said he has not talked to the club about an extension and doesn't expect to before the season begins. General manager Terry Ryan said it's "not necessarily" a foregone conclusion that Hunter will be gone after this season but declined further comment.
Hunter, a six-time Gold Glove center fielder, said he doesn't blame Ryan for pushing him down on the priority list of contracts. He said it is paramount for the future of the team heading into its proposed new stadium in 2010 that the Twins extend two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana's contract and sign reigning American League most valuable player Justin Morneau and cleanup hitter Michael Cuddyer to multiyear deals.
"These guys have to get signed first," Hunter said. "They're worth a lot. They're going to take everything, and I agree with that and I understand that. You can't let (Morneau and Cuddyer) go year to year. If you let (Santana) go, I think the whole state of Minnesota is going to knock buildings down. You have to give the fans hope that we're going to have some superstars for at least four or five more years."
With the contracts of Hunter, Luis Castillo, Carlos Silva and Ramon Ortiz set to expire after this season, the Twins could clear $25.2 million off the books to try to lock up Cuddyer and Morneau. The team is expected to begin talks with Santana during spring training on a contract extension. He has two more seasons remaining on an original four-year, $40 million deal.
Hunter's contract status was a hot topic at this time last year, and it remained that way through the first few weeks of the season. Early last season, there was speculation Hunter could be traded to the New York Yankees at midseason if the Twins were out of the pennant race, and he publicly admitted he had envisioned himself wearing pinstripes.
This year, Hunter said, he intends not to talk publicly about his contract status once the season starts. He respectfully asked reporters Tuesday not to ask about it anymore but said he would continue to be open and honest about the subject if asked.
"It seems selfish for me to talk about my contract during the season," Hunter said. "I don't want to distract the team."
But there Hunter was again Tuesday afternoon, holding court in the corner after his arrival at camp and answering the same questions he did last year regarding his future with the Twins.
But things are clearer this year: This almost certainly is the beginning of the end of Hunter's tenure in Minnesota.
Hunter, 31, is entering the final year of his contract after the Twins exercised a $12 million option. He said there are too many other key contracts on the Twins' priority list and knows there probably won't be enough money left over to keep him in Minnesota.
"I ain't stupid," said Hunter, reiterating that he would like to spend his entire career with the Twins. "I know how this organization works. But (team owner Carl) Pohlad might just say, 'I'll sell one of my buildings,' so anything's possible. But (contractually) I'm here for one more year, so I'm trying to enjoy it and win a World Series."
Hunter said he has not talked to the club about an extension and doesn't expect to before the season begins. General manager Terry Ryan said it's "not necessarily" a foregone conclusion that Hunter will be gone after this season but declined further comment.
Hunter, a six-time Gold Glove center fielder, said he doesn't blame Ryan for pushing him down on the priority list of contracts. He said it is paramount for the future of the team heading into its proposed new stadium in 2010 that the Twins extend two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana's contract and sign reigning American League most valuable player Justin Morneau and cleanup hitter Michael Cuddyer to multiyear deals.
"These guys have to get signed first," Hunter said. "They're worth a lot. They're going to take everything, and I agree with that and I understand that. You can't let (Morneau and Cuddyer) go year to year. If you let (Santana) go, I think the whole state of Minnesota is going to knock buildings down. You have to give the fans hope that we're going to have some superstars for at least four or five more years."
With the contracts of Hunter, Luis Castillo, Carlos Silva and Ramon Ortiz set to expire after this season, the Twins could clear $25.2 million off the books to try to lock up Cuddyer and Morneau. The team is expected to begin talks with Santana during spring training on a contract extension. He has two more seasons remaining on an original four-year, $40 million deal.
Hunter's contract status was a hot topic at this time last year, and it remained that way through the first few weeks of the season. Early last season, there was speculation Hunter could be traded to the New York Yankees at midseason if the Twins were out of the pennant race, and he publicly admitted he had envisioned himself wearing pinstripes.
This year, Hunter said, he intends not to talk publicly about his contract status once the season starts. He respectfully asked reporters Tuesday not to ask about it anymore but said he would continue to be open and honest about the subject if asked.
"It seems selfish for me to talk about my contract during the season," Hunter said. "I don't want to distract the team."
He'd be a hot commodity this offseason. He could get something like 4 years/52 million.
