MLB Seattle Mariners

Torii Hunter Not Ideal For Seattle Mariners In 2015

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By @JordanWevers

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Free agent outfielder Torii Hunter is reportedly receiving interest from four different clubs: the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners. He will turn 40 years old four days after the 2015 All-Star game is played. While still relatively productive for the Detroit Tigers over the last two seasons, Hunter’s skills are irrevocably in decline. Yet, the chances remain high he will sign his final professional baseball contract in the coming weeks.

The Mariners are still fervently pursuing a right-handed hitter to add to their arsenal of Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Logan Morrison. Bringing aboard a career .279 right-handed hitter the likes of Hunter does make sense at this stage in free agency. But whatever way the organization tries to twist things, they would be settling for much less than they wanted should Hunter sign with them. He is not an ideal acquisition, but rather, merely a serviceable one.

The grizzled Hunter is four years older than Victor Martinez and nine years the senior of Hanley Ramirez. Both of these players’ profiles as right-handed hitters would have been a better match for Seattle’s lineup in 2015. It’s common knowledge the Mariners were pursuing both of them but were unable to reach an agreement. V-Mart re-signed with the Tigers, while Ramirez chose to roam the Boston Red Sox‘s left side of the infield with Pablo Sandoval for the foreseeable future.

Hunter reached the 30 home run mark once in his career while with the Twins in 2006. His OPS has regressed over the last three seasons (2012/.817, ’13/.800, ’14/.765). His numbers probably spiked deceivingly some when he went over to Detroit from the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. There, he was protected by three very talented hitters in Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Prince Fielder (2013 only). The Mariners do not have that kind of protection to offer the aging five-time All-Star.

Hunter’s OPS+ (which factors in ball park effects and places more importance on OBP instead of SLG) will likely continue to decline more from his 118 average over the last three seasons considering he would be moving from the neutral Comerica Park to the least friendly hitters’ park in all of MLB for 2014, Safeco Field. It would be natural to temper expectations, as fans saw what the park did to Cano’s power numbers last season.

Defensively, Hunter is fragment of his former self. With nine Gold Gloves, it has been over five years since he last won the award while with the Angels in 2009. He is no longer capable of the highlight reel catches people became accustomed to seeing him make in center field for so many years. He’s now more of a liability than anything, as his dWAR in 2013 was minus-1.5, dipping down to a career  low of minus-2.4 last season.

Economically, it probably makes the least amount of sense to sign Hunter. He made $14 million last year in Detroit. When you consider the M’s shelled out $8 million to Corey Hart last season for a one-year trial that failed miserably, Hunter probably won’t settle for less than $10 million per year if there are four teams competing for his interests. In his twilight, a chance to win a World Series is probably a priority for Hunter as well. In that regard, every team save for the Twins are could be viable destinations.

Does Hunter make sense for a team like the Mariners? He does — otherwise there would not be a competitive market for his services. If the Mariners do land him without the intention of pursuing another hitter this offseason (Melky Cabrera, anyone?), fans can find solace knowing Hunter is a career .296/.354/.469 with nine home runs in 325 plate appearances at Safeco. However, in his career at the four other ballparks of the AL West, Hunter is a career .277 hitter, two points lower than his lifetime batting average.

Jordan Wevers is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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