Hunter retires

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I haven't read the article yet, but this is big news. Torii was a big part of the Twins' turnaround last year (along with Mollie and Ryan's willingness to bring up and play rookies), and he will be missed. Still, I think this is good news. I suspect that they will make it look like this was his decision, but the fact of the matter is they just didn't need to spend $10 million on a guy who wasn't likely to start next year. I hope Terry said to him "Look, Torii...we love you and will always be grateful for what you did for us this year. And we want you back next year, but not as a starter...and we'll pay you a very generous $2 million." Which Torii of course would decline, or did decline.

Now the Twins have $10 million to spend on another need...catcher and relief pitching being the first that come to mind. And now there's room for Buxton, Hicks, Rosario and Kepler to battle it out for the three outfield spots.

Thanks for everything, Torii...you will be remembered as one of the greatest Twins.

[bleedspeed]

Good for Tori to go out this way. Please bring back AJ now.

[Monster]

Torii said he went into the season pretty sure this was his last season. Man he was just an amazing player. Glad he got to go out on his own terms. Unbelievable how long and productive his career was. Who would have guessed many years ago when he was a young guy he would have been kept around in this league for his leadership and his bat.

[mjs34]

Amazing that Tori still posted the numbers he did, while still playing solid D. It's always great to see guys step down before their skills decline too much. Really depressing though when you consider he had a better year than our 24 mil prima donna.

[Jester1534]

You can take me to the bank on this but lucroy will be a twin next year because of this, we will be able to afford him and the Brewers supossivly love Trevor mays stuff. You give Plouffe and May up you get lucroy.

[bleedspeed]

Lucroy is not the answer at catcher for us. He is barely an improvement over Suzuki.

[Monster]

Lucroy is an improvement over Suzuki but I wouldn't give up Plouffe and May for it. I like the idea of adding Lucroy but I am not sure what I would be willing to give up for him. You are gonna have to give up something of value to get him I get that. I just don't know how mich I want to give up for a catcher that is a few months from turning 30.

Also can people get over the fact that money is NOT a significant issue for the Twins anymore like it was in the past? No they are not gonna spent 200 million or something but this team isn't run on a shoestring budget anymore. They have plenty of money to spend.

[Jester1534]

Lucroy is an improvement over Suzuki but I wouldn't give up Plouffe and May for it. I like the idea of adding Lucroy but I am not sure what I would be willing to give up for him. You are gonna have to give up something of value to get him I get that. I just don't know how mich I want to give up for a catcher that is a few months from turning 30.

Also can people get over the fact that money is NOT a significant issue for the Twins anymore like it was in the past? No they are not gonna spent 200 million or something but this team isn't run on a shoestring budget anymore. They have plenty of money to spend.

I don't think money is much of problem anymore monster but 10 million is still 10 million to spend on someone else no matter what team it's. This is no different than what will happen 2-3 years from now when Mauer 23 million & Nolasco 12 million is up all that money is going into signing the young guys long term.

Obviously bleed you never looked up Kurts statistics throwing out base runners and framing pitches. Kurt has cost us about 46 more runs than the next average starting catcher in baseball. Anything is an upgrade over him defensively.

I'm gonna take the guy that has .30 points higher carrer average and hits 10-18 bombs every year. Who also throws out 13% of base runners and I don't this but I would assume frames pitches better and calls just as good of a game.

Do I want to give up Plouffe and May no, but like I said at the trade deadline you got to give up something to get something. May has been very vocal that he doesn't want to be a bullpen guy. Sorry but May is a good bullpen arm, but is an 4A starting pitcher just like Perkins was. This would allow Sano to play Third everyday . Have Mauer go to DH or 1b and have Kepler up with the team next year getting ABs.

[bleedspeed]

Lucroy is an improvement over Suzuki but I wouldn't give up Plouffe and May for it.

100% agree. I would make the improvement via free agency.

http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2015/10/26/9616802/mlb-free-agent-tracker

[Monster]

Lucroy is an improvement over Suzuki but I wouldn't give up Plouffe and May for it. I like the idea of adding Lucroy but I am not sure what I would be willing to give up for him. You are gonna have to give up something of value to get him I get that. I just don't know how mich I want to give up for a catcher that is a few months from turning 30.

Also can people get over the fact that money is NOT a significant issue for the Twins anymore like it was in the past? No they are not gonna spent 200 million or something but this team isn't run on a shoestring budget anymore. They have plenty of money to spend.

I don't think money is much of problem anymore monster but 10 million is still 10 million to spend on someone else no matter what team it's. This is no different than what will happen 2-3 years from now when Mauer 23 million & Nolasco 12 million is up all that money is going into signing the young guys long term.

Obviously bleed you never looked up Kurts statistics throwing out base runners and framing pitches. Kurt has cost us about 46 more runs than the next average starting catcher in baseball. Anything is an upgrade over him defensively.

I'm gonna take the guy that has .30 points higher carrer average and hits 10-18 bombs every year. Who also throws out 13% of base runners and I don't this but I would assume frames pitches better and calls just as good of a game.

Do I want to give up Plouffe and May no, but like I said at the trade deadline you got to give up something to get something. May has been very vocal that he doesn't want to be a bullpen guy. Sorry but May is a good bullpen arm, but is an 4A starting pitcher just like Perkins was. This would allow Sano to play Third everyday . Have Mauer go to DH or 1b and have Kepler up with the team next year getting ABs.

Alright we are on the same page with the money thing then.

If May really has no interest in the Pen that is a problem. I hadn't followed that too closely. The couple articles I read just now sounds like that's his preference and TR preference too. Not many organizations or players set out to go the Pen route so...if that's where it's going after this coming year and he doesn't seem to be a starter...and he isn't happy I would be more worried. Let's see how it plays out.

Catcher is a big problem for the team with nothing waiting in the wins and the backup defensive catchers haven't been able to hit at all. It would be good beyond just sentiment to get AJ but it will come down to what other options he has. It sounds like the Twins are plenty interested.