Torii Hunter agrees to five-year deal with Angels

[JeffH]

it's still not as bad as the Juan Pierre deal.

 

That I disagree with this statement is a testament to just how bad this deal is.

 

More than twice as much as Pierre's deal.

 

Simply brutal.

[Derwood]

it's still not as bad as the Juan Pierre deal.

 

That I disagree with this statement is a testament to just how bad this deal is.

 

More than twice as much as Pierre's deal.

 

Simply brutal.

 

but Pierre is less than 1/2 the player Hunter is, which is saying a lot

[Outshined_One]

it's still not as bad as the Juan Pierre deal.

 

That I disagree with this statement is a testament to just how bad this deal is.

 

More than twice as much as Pierre's deal.

 

Simply brutal.

 

but Pierre is less than 1/2 the player Hunter is, which is saying a lot

 

Indeed, but I wouldn't count on Hunter to continue to maintain his defense and ability to hit for power unless he utilizes other means as he gets older.

[frostwyrm]

For those of you wondering, Soriano's getting paid $1m less per year than Hunter.

 

Yeah, but for 3 more years than Hunter, and he'll make $19M in those years, and he'll be old.

 

Indeed, but I'm getting the feeling that Soriano's contract will become more and more tolerable as the years go on in terms of money if these kinds of contracts become the norm.

 

I don't think so. IMO if there's a clear market bubble anywhere it's in the giving of huge money to so-so players after one great year. Gary Matthews' contract is looking awful now and so is Adrian Beltre's. Then there's the fact that Soriano's contract played a big part in inflating the general market. I very much doubt Hunter would be getting $90M if Soriano didn't get $136M.

[nilodnayr]

For the record, GMJr is a better fielder than Torii. I'm thinking this may mean the Cabrera deal fell thru. I'd look for him to go to the Dodgers now.

 

according to revised zone rating, GMJr was actually the worst defensive center fielder in the american league last season, and i think dewan's plus/minus system ranked GMJr among the worst last season too. torii hunter was slightly better last season defensively, and in 2006, they both equally sucked defensively.

 

though interestingly enough, in 2006 coco crisp was the worst defensive center fielder according to revised zone rating, but in 2007 he was the 4th best. so who knows.

 

What that does prove is that defense (especially OF) is about as repeatable as the performance of relievers. You are going to have some that are going to be good year in year out, and others that are going to wildly fluctuate. Meaning that it'd be quite foolish to weigh defense heavily when valuing most players.

[CuseCubFan69]

it's still not as bad as the Juan Pierre deal.

 

That I disagree with this statement is a testament to just how bad this deal is.

 

More than twice as much as Pierre's deal.

 

Simply brutal.

 

but Pierre is less than 1/2 the player Hunter is, which is saying a lot

 

Indeed, but I wouldn't count on Hunter to continue to maintain his defense and ability to hit for power unless he utilizes other means as he gets older.

 

So the debate is to either flush money down the toilet or burn it!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And there's speculation the Angels aren't done yet.

 

Link.

 

General Manager Tony Reagins indicated Thursday that the addition of Hunter, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner who hit .287 with 28 home runs and 107 runs batted in last season, would not preclude the Angels from pursuing another slugger.

 

"All I can say is I'm going to be looking at some other things to make us better," Reagins said. "The winter meetings are coming up, and I'm sure we'll have more discussions. I'm going to be open-minded."

 

By signing Hunter, the Angels could more easily absorb the loss of hard-hitting second baseman Howie Kendrick, whom the Marlins are insisting be part of a trade with the Angels for Cabrera. Florida would also like catcher Jeff Mathis, pitching prospect Nick Adenhart and one of the Angels' three young starters, Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver or Joe Saunders.

[JimSorgi]

And there's speculation the Angels aren't done yet.

 

Link.

 

General Manager Tony Reagins indicated Thursday that the addition of Hunter, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner who hit .287 with 28 home runs and 107 runs batted in last season, would not preclude the Angels from pursuing another slugger.

 

"All I can say is I'm going to be looking at some other things to make us better," Reagins said. "The winter meetings are coming up, and I'm sure we'll have more discussions. I'm going to be open-minded."

 

By signing Hunter, the Angels could more easily absorb the loss of hard-hitting second baseman Howie Kendrick, whom the Marlins are insisting be part of a trade with the Angels for Cabrera. Florida would also like catcher Jeff Mathis, pitching prospect Nick Adenhart and one of the Angels' three young starters, Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver or Joe Saunders.

They should sign Andruw Jones. They need another CF.