Veteran outfielder Torii Hunter is coming back home. He signed a deal with the Minnesota Twins Tuesday night as the team announced on Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press, Hunter signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract to return to the Twins. He was also pursued by the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. The Royals were the first team to offer him a contract when he became a free agent.
"This is where I needed to be," Hunter said, MLB.com notes. "This is home for me. A lot of people might not agree, but the majority know this is where I need to be at the end of my career to give back. But I can still play a little bit. I've got some bullets left. I'm not the guy that's going to turn it around right away, but I really think this ballclub can do some things. I'm here and I'm here to win."
Hunter was drafted by the Twins in 1993 and was with them through 2007. He then signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. After that deal he signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. This past season he hit .286 with 17 homeruns, 83 RBI’s, a .319 on-base percentage, and a .446 slugging percentage with the Tigers, according to USA Today, which first reported the news. Hunter has 331 homeruns in his career, is a five-time All-Star and a nine-time Gold Glove winner.
Hunter will play right field for the Twins. Oswaldo Arcia moves from right field to left field