OT: Tigers sign Torii Hunter
2 years $26 million deal. According to MLB Network.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^
1. Jackson
2. Hunter
3. Cabrera
4. Fielder
5. Martinez
6. Dirks
7. Peralta
8. Avila
9. Infante
Mmmm I'm liking that lineup.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^
Until they reach the World Series, then they're not.
November 14th, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
Well that's a different 1-5 than in this years WS so it's kind of hard to say that.
November 14th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
Don, Don, Don,… what are we to do with you? /s
November 14th, 2012 at 1:25 PM ^
Don't you worry 'bout Don. He ain't gettin' sucked into the Tigers' like the rest of us.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^
So the first five batters all hit .300 or better in the previous year they played. I'll say that is a strong first five
November 14th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
We'll be lucky if Hunter hits .300 or better this year. He's a career .277 hitter, and this was the first year he hit over .300 (the closest he had been before this year was .299 in 2009). Plus, his BABIP was an unsustainable .389 this past season.
Still, I'll take .275 with .300+ OBP and solid defense. Great pickup by the Tigers, but let's keep our expectations realistic.
Edit: Here's the link to his Fangraphs page.
November 14th, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^
I'm a baseball noob, but hasn't OBP become more valued than BA?
November 14th, 2012 at 1:44 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 3:38 PM ^
Yes, however Hunters BB% fell and his K% rose last season, so it's not like he'll be a good OBP guy either.
November 14th, 2012 at 5:02 PM ^
That's one thing I noticed too, and has me a little worried. His inflated BA hides the fact that his K and BB numbers slid last year. It's hard to tell what's really the case though: is he losing his plate discipline as he's getting older? Was it just him feeling like he needed to be more aggressive, since LA got into a hole early in the season? Maybe he'll be able to be more patient knowing that he's got Cabrera, Fielder, and VMart hitting behind him. Man, that sounds so good.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
this mean Delmon is out?
November 14th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
Yep. DD said that he and Valverde wouldn't be brought back.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
I still can't believe that the Tigers would just let their all-time playoff home run leader just walk away. Delmon is the man, man!
November 14th, 2012 at 12:59 PM ^
Probably wants a long term deal and with Martinez coming back there's no spot for him in the lineup at DH. He's not a long term, everyday left fielder at Comerica.
November 14th, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^
We only need one DH, and Martinez>Delmon.
November 14th, 2012 at 9:37 PM ^
2011 Martinez > Delmon. 2013 Martinez > Delmon? I think he will be, but ya never know.
November 14th, 2012 at 10:21 PM ^
who asked you to bring logic to this debate?
I do really hope martinez returns to form and avila can keep improving.
November 14th, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
Don't want to bunch righties at the top of the order. Also, if Victor bats second, you have a nicely balanced lineup of R, S, R, L, R, L, R, L, R.
November 14th, 2012 at 1:13 PM ^
You don't bat VMart second. He's an RBI guy.
I actually think Hunter will hit sixth and Infante will hit second.
That way you will be Jackson (R), Infante (S), Cabrera (R), Fielder (L), Martinez (S), Hunter (R), Dirks, (L), Peralta (R), Avila (L).
Still balanced.
November 14th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
That is a possibility but Infante is not a switch hitter. He is strictly a right handed batter.
November 14th, 2012 at 2:00 PM ^
What I like is... it sounds like a wonderful conundrum for the Tigers to be in. “Where do we bat a great defensive outfielder and leader with decent pop and hitting skills?”
November 14th, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^
actually be the perfect #2 hitter. Switch hitter, great plate discipline, good OBP guy, rarely swings and misses. Everything you would want, except a bit less speed. I would like to see the good OBP guys bat ahead of Miggy and Prince, as opposed to behind. Hunter would slot in much better in the 5 spot than the 2 anyway.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
Tremendous signing! Great defense, good bat, veteran leadership, great clubhouse guy. Not too expensive, either. Tremendous signing by the Tigers.
November 14th, 2012 at 9:40 PM ^
I thought they over paid for him a bit, unless Texas was going to pony up that kind of jack. But hey it ain't my money! And if it gets us a World Series, then money well spent.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
What's the deal worth?
This could turn out really well or really poorly for the Tigers. Hunter had a great year last year (hit over .300 IIRC), but he's also getting to be pretty old. Depends if this is a late-career resurgence for him, or just a good year. I know prior to last year people were saying he was starting to decline, and I think his power has decreased somewhat.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
My guess is Garcia starts in triple A now. Dirks in left and hunter in right.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I don't see how there is a downside for this signing. AJ in center, Hunter in left, platoon Dirks, Berry, Boesch/Garcia in right.
Also, they aren't signing Hunter for power. They are signing him for the intangibles: improved defense in LF, improved two/six hitter, veteran leadership. Details haven't come out yet, but I'd assume its around 24-26 mill. And the money really doesn't matter because Ilitch has opened the checkbook to win a ring.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^
and one more, his son may just decide to play even closer to his dad, like in ann arbor. 8)
November 14th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 12:37 PM ^
No more platooning
November 14th, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^
contract length. It's a two year deal and that's fine.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
The safe money is on Right Field
November 14th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
I'm guessing that Garcia at least starts the season in Toledo, where he can start every day. Unless he earns a clear starting spot in Detroit, playing every day for Toledo is probably the best situation for him to mature and improve. No more platooning, please.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
Gonna say the same about a 1 year deal but I will take it. This 1-5 in the lineup is pretty good on paper.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
Dombrowski is the best GM in the game. Illitch is the best owner. And Leyland is a damn fine cigarette smoker.
November 14th, 2012 at 9:44 PM ^
Illitch recipe for being best owner:
1. Open wallet
2. Close mouth
3. ????
4. Profit
November 14th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
ESPN report by Crasnick says it's a 2-year, $26M deal
November 14th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
2 year, 26 million according to MLB Network, who cited USA Today. I'm an effing genius.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
Some summary offensive stats for Hunter for 2012, for reference:
.313 BA, 16 HR, 92 RBI
167 hits, 81 runs, .365 OBP. and .817 OPS
If he can produce comparably this coming season, that gives the Tigers' lineup a little more horsepower and ability to produce runs, so it is an upgrade in this sense alone.
One thing that I think you get with Hunter, however, is someone who can mentor young outfielders, which would be an intangible but definitely useful in the clubhouse. He has historically gotten rave reviews for this ability.
November 14th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
November 14th, 2012 at 4:17 PM ^
I wonderwhat that money means for Sanchez. He's looking for 6 years $90-100m. Hope we can keep him. Beating the Yankees out for Hunter could mean they spend the money on Sanchez instead. Boston just freed up a ton of $ too, and their rotation is dildos, to quote Skwisgaar.