Long before the Minnesota Twins decided to prove they could hang onto the big boys with Joe Mauer’s monster contract, they let a lot of good talent go. Two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana got shipped off to the Mets for a package of prospects. At least one of those prospects panned out – unfortunately just not for the Twins. The Twins have been unable to hang onto guys who have seen great success elsewhere. Whether for financials or just cringeworthy errors, players like David Ortiz, Matt Garza, and JJ Hardy have found great success after departing the Twin Cities.
One of the sadder player departures in recent Twins’ history was when Torii Hunter signed a $90 million deal with the Angels, a contract worth double what the Twins were able to offer him. But seven years, two Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers later, Hunter is back with the team who drafted him out of high school in 1993.
It didn’t start out so pretty. In what should have been a fairly celebratory press conference to announce his homecoming, Torii instead elected to repeatedly call a reporter a prick for questioning his polarizing views on gay marriage. A $10.5 million deal for a guy pushing 40 was enough to make Twins fans a little nervous. A 39-year old who starts his tenure back home with controversial views and name calling was cause for actual alarm. Now there was the fear that not only might his play not be up to par, but would nostalgia even be enough?
If today’s spring training game is any indication, the Minnesota fans may be more than willing to welcome Torii home.
Good ovation for Brian Dozier. Huge ovation for Joe Mauer. Biggest Ovation for Torii Hunter.
— Twins Daily (@twinsdaily) March 11, 2015
Let’s just hope that by All-Star break, he has more than earned that standing ovation.