OFFICIAL: The #MNTwins sign @toriihunter48 to a one-year deal! #WelcomeBackTorii pic.twitter.com/RnGzpxO2Pk
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) December 3, 2014
A former Twins outfielder is returning to Minnesota. The team announced Wednesday that it struck a deal to bring veteran Torii Hunter back to the Twin Cities.
Hunter has agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million contract to return to the Twins.
The Twins had been interested in signing Hunter since Detroit passed on re-signing the 39-year-old outfielder. As noted by USA Today, the Twins drafted and signed Hunter in 1993. He made his major league debut in 1997 and stayed with the team until 2007, when he signed a five-year $90 million free-agent contract with the Angels.
THIS JUST IN: Torii Hunter returns to Twins. Hunter was drafted with Minnesota in 1993 and played there until 2007. pic.twitter.com/mDVkMzPEoH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 3, 2014
Hunter spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Tigers. He has continued to put up solid offensive numbers hitting .286 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs last season.
“It’s just the right fit. This is home,” Hunter said in a phone interview with the Pioneer Press. “I went out on a venture (five years with the Los Angeles Angels, two with the Detroit Tigers) to try to win a World Series championship, and it didn’t happen. It’s time for me to come home to be fruitful and also to win.”
He is a five-time All Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner.
Earlier Tuesday, it looked like the Twins might lose out on Hunter as Texas started an aggressive pursuit of him.
Source: #Twins’ offer for Hunter was higher than #Rangers’.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 3, 2014
In addition to the Rangers, both Kansas City and Baltimore also expressed interest in Hunter.
