Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter’s future uncertain

By Michael Natelli |

This week we’ve watched Tim Hudson and Barry Zito throw what will likely be their final respective pitches in the big leagues. Aramis Ramirez has also said he’ll be hanging up his cleats whenever the Pirates’ season ends, and Jeremy Affeldt announced Thursday that this will be his final season.

But one player that has seemed to go largely overlooked is Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter. While he has sad he won’t retire this winter if he has a good 2015, the fact of the matter is that Hunter’s future remains up in the air. And no one seems to be noticing.

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Hunter doesn’t have a contract for 2016 at the moment, as he signed a one-year deal with Minnesota before this season. He’ll be 40 next year, and while his offensive clip looks healthy (22 home runs, 80 RBIs, 44 extra-base hits, 34 walks), advanced metrics suggest he’s only a 0.9 WAR player and a defensive liability.

The Twins reportedly want Hunter back next year, though they may not have a regular spot for him upon further examination. Rookies Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano have done more than enough to lock up the starting left field and designated hitter spots, respectively, for 2016. That leaves center and right field, where Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Aaron Hicks and Shane Robinson and Eduardo Escobar will also be vying for varying levels of playing time.

So if Hunter does stay in Minnesota, that would leave him looking at a decreased role next season. Being the personality he is, it’s unclear whether that would be something Hunter’s open to, though a return to Minnesota seems unlikely unless he does become a part-time player.

Looking elsewhere, the nine-time Gold Glove winner is likely limited to American League jobs where he can spend significant time in the designated hitter spot. Texas has gone after him on multiple occasions in the past, and could be a fit. The Orioles could also be a match, as could the Rays, though most other clubs would be looking at Hunter in a part-time role as Minnesota likely would be.

If the five-time All-Star isn’t content leaving Minnesota or playing part-time, we could be seeing the final few games of his career this week, and no one seems to be taking notice. The Twins are still in the playoff hunt, so we could see one more taste of Hunter in the postseason, though they currently sit 1.5 games out of a spot and trail both Houston and Los Angeles. And if this really is the last we see of Hunter, it’ll be the end of a truly outstanding career.

Next: Jeremy Affeldt To Retire After 2015

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