After getting yet another taste of postseason action in 2014, right-handed setup man Tommy Hunter is seemingly content with settling down with the Baltimore Orioles.
According to a report from CSN Baltimore’s Rich Dubroff, after signing a one-year extension worth approximately $4.65 million, Hunter remains open to the possibility of a long-term deal with the O’s moving forward.
"“I’m open for it, though. It’s definitely something you’d like to see happen. I don’t know. He didn’t say anything about it. If they want to do it, I’m in. My wife likes Baltimore. I love to Baltimore. It’s been good to me,” Hunter said."
Last season with the Orioles, Hunter posted a 2.97 earned run average across 60-plus innings of work, following up a very strong 2013 campaign with yet-another solid year in the back of Buck Showalter‘s bullpen. Over the last two years, he has been one of the best setup men in all of Major League Baseball.
Between 2013 and 2014, the 28-year-old Hunter has made 128 appearances, finishing 44 contests in the process. He’s averaged a 1.034 WHIP to go along with a 2.88 ERA and a slightly-less impressive 3.46 FIP over that span, while also posting an outstanding 4.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Moving forward, Hunter said he’s focused on the task at hand and cannot worry about the possibility of a long-term deal with Baltimore.
"“You really can’t think about it too much. I’m going to be happy with what you have with what you have. The grass is always greener on the other side. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’ll always see you guys around.”"
A former first-round pick of the Texas Rangers, Hunter has transitioned from a starting pitcher with Texas to a reliever with the O’s. In 2010 – a mere five years ago – the right-hander won 13 games with the Rangers, before coming to Baltimore in 2011 along with Chris Davis in exchange for Koji Uehara – the now-closer for the Boston Red Sox.