LA Angels sign Torii Hunter!

by alon91 on Nov 22, 2007 1:42 AM CST Comment 54 comments

Wow. I don't think I heard the LAA in connection with Hunter very often.

Five year contract, at least $80 million. I, for one, am delighted that the Rangers failed to pick him up, although having him in the division won't be great for the next few years.

This also means GMJ, his enormous contract, and his .742 OPS are now moving to a corner OF spot. What a bullet we dodged last year.

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Yeah,

That caught me by surprise as I pulled ESPN.com.

Good news IMO.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Nov 22, 2007 1:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Glad...

he used the holidays to think it over.

Stars in a Texas Night Sky, a Dallas Stars blog from a fan's perspective.

by rangers85 on Nov 22, 2007 1:34 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

woot!

thats awesome.

by knockoutking24 on Nov 22, 2007 1:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Out. Of. Nowhere.

One guess what price range Boras is now expecting for Jones. Drives up Rowand's price, too.

Prediction: JD makes a shocker trade for CF.

And, with the catcher market recently fleshing out, it ain't Laird for Crisp.

I'll go out on a limb and bet Hurley goes somewhere, in a not uncalculated move.

by hightowersmith on Nov 22, 2007 1:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

We'll overpay for Rowand

You'll all be thrilled because he sucks.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 1:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is because

I believe my theory the Rangers are pursuing an expensive CF is still valid.

It's just, Hunter was too good. They want to pay more for less.

6 years, 200 million for Rowand..applause from LSB..

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 1:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Strike Hurley

Prediction: Saltalamacchia will be in another uniform this winter.

by hightowersmith on Nov 22, 2007 2:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

Salty is the only one in the trade with a chance to be good. So you want to trade him.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Only on this board

Would people be thrilled about not signing a good player.

Thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.

Unless it was some shitty broken down overpaid player, like Mike Cameron..then you'd all be happy for another serving of crap.

This just means the Rangers will waste their money on worse, I imagine...who was that awful player you all liked, the one with a .334 OBP? Rowand maybe? Maybe him...

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 1:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

VTB

I bet you were pissed when the Rangers didn't resign GMJ.

And for the record, I was pissed with the way ARod (a pretty decent player, you'd have to admit) left town all those years ago.

And I'm very happy, because I think Hunter's contract will be an albatross in a couple of years, right around the time I'm hoping this team is prepared to seriously compete for a World Series.

I never feed you troll, but I'm in a giving mood.

by alon91 on Nov 22, 2007 1:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course you're happy

You hate good players.

You want to trade Blalock as soon as possible.

You never get good players in return for these trades.

There are no good players left on the Rangers.

I hope we use this money to lock up Blalock and Kinsler, with no trade clauses, so that this will backfire on you.

No, I wasn't pissed about GMJ..at the price he ended up at, certainly not.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate Sharky

I like good players.

I'll tell you what I hate: I hate you and trolls like you. You are the single worst thing about LSB.

I'd honestly pay good money for the ability to filter out all your posts. Or better yet, to just have you go away. Adam is far too lenient about letting poison-posters like you sabotage discussions here.

by alon91 on Nov 22, 2007 2:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

quit being a douchebag

Signing good players is usually a good idea for a team that wants to improve and not finish in last place.

Red Sux Nation is an evil organization.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Nov 22, 2007 2:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No

We'd rather trade everybody, especially anybody above average.

But Kevin Millwood, he's wonderful. Zero criticism, ever.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What exactly is the "discussion"

I'm poisoning?

I dot consider "hay guize what garbage can we trade Hank Blalockser/Mark Teixeira/Ian Kinsler for" repeated as Nasuem to be "discussion".

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

VOTE TO BAN

This will be the last reply I'll be making to you, probably for a long, long time. Hopefully ever, if I have the willpower.

You poison every discussion.

You post THOUSANDS of comments. Virtually all of them are nonsensical, childish, instigative, repetitive.

There are literally countless examples of your comments hijacking otherwise interesting discussions. I can tell you that whenever I come across a string of comment exchanges involving you I switch threads. Or worse, switch websites. And I know I'm not alone. You drive people away from LSB, Sharky. And that's a dick thing to do.

I never write this viciously, but you've driven me to it: you're selfish, miserably lonely, or plain crazy, because this is not how well adjusted folks communicate.

I left the NMLR forum because I couldn't handle the trolls. Seven singlehandedly ensured that I NEVER go to a forum that I used to spend hundreds of hours a year on. Unless Adam takes this into control (like I used to ask Jamey to do), you'll end up driving me completely away from reading LSB discussions.

Reply if you'd like. Get the last word if you need to, you freaking troll. I will not respond to you any more.

by alon91 on Nov 22, 2007 2:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

dude

Quit being a douche. Sharky is right. Signing good players is a good idea. Rangers should go after Andruw Jones.

Red Sux Nation is an evil organization.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Nov 22, 2007 5:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Nov 22, 2007 7:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+2

Remember that time your dog ate my goldfish, and you lied and told me I didn't have any goldfish? Why did I have the bowl bart? Why did I have the bowl?

by i hit straight ball very much on Nov 22, 2007 9:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+3

by dieselT8 on Nov 22, 2007 9:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

-3

Duncan Hunter for President in '08

by dstar442005 on Nov 22, 2007 12:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

-2

Duncan Hunter for President in '08

by dstar442005 on Nov 22, 2007 12:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

-1

Duncan Hunter for President in '08

by dstar442005 on Nov 22, 2007 12:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+ / - 0

T.R. -- enough is enough.

by Chase Irwin on Nov 22, 2007 12:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hi Sharky

The only mentions of Blalock, Teixeira or Kinsler in this thread are by you. Their names don't appear in anyone else's posts.

You are truly obtuse.

by Lucas on Nov 22, 2007 3:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sharky only knows how to say...

the same 5 things over and over again...he just continues to re-post the same shit in one way or another.

Ron Washingtons sucks
I hate the Rangers
LSB hates all good Ranger players and wants to trade them.
I guarantee Torii Hunter will be a Ranger.
Everything is the the damn liberal media's fault.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 22, 2007 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Obtuse

A) Lacking quickness of perception or intellect.
B) Characterized by a lack of intelligence or sensitivity:

Remember that time your dog ate my goldfish, and you lied and told me I didn't have any goldfish? Why did I have the bowl bart? Why did I have the bowl?

by i hit straight ball very much on Nov 22, 2007 9:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We should use this saved money

To lock up Hank Blalock (with no trade clause).

Boy, then you guys would be kicking yourselves! Then you'd wish we had signed Hunter so bad..I hope that happens.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 1:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

You're all just sitting around

Waiting to post Blalock trade threads..

I know you are, I know you;re obsessed with him, just like Teixeira..and then Kinsler..

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:02 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

My Crisp & Fukudome bandwagon is now welcoming

new members.

by DSheppard on Nov 22, 2007 2:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sign me up.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Nov 22, 2007 7:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ran across this ...

... Fukudome rundown page with videos and factoids ...
http://www.armchairgm.com/Kosuke_Fukudome

Faces

by shroomer on Nov 22, 2007 8:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

A little disappointed, but I'm glad the Rangers were not on top of that offer. Kind of shocked it happened so late in the night, and before the holiday (given how much he's said over and over that he wanted to wait).

Definitely checked this board one minute, went to bed, flipped through the channels, hit ESPN with them "rehashing" news about Torii Hunter signing with the Angels. Kind of caught me off guard.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Nov 22, 2007 2:10 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I doubt we were overbid

He probably just doesn't want to come to losertown, is myu guess.

I'm sure the Rangers have their on eye on overpaying much, much more if possible.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hunter's comments:

Hunter said he also had negotiated seriously with the Rangers, but he thought they were a year or two from contending.

I'd like to hope we weren't offering much more than that.

I'm starting to get the feeling it's going to be a very boring offseason for the Rangers.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Nov 22, 2007 2:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

We will sign Rowand or something crappy like that.

You can see, Sharky knows what's going on here. I've already been right 4 times about this situation.

The Rangers want a CF..they will moneywhip a crappy one.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

the last thing i read you say on the situation

was that they would sign hunter specifically..

by DSheppard on Nov 22, 2007 2:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sharky is a dip-shit...

you promised Hunter would be a Ranger, you can't pull your head out of your ass long enough to know what is going on anywhere.

And stop referring to yourself in the 3rd person, who do you think you are Bob Dole?

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 22, 2007 9:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh.

My favorite part of ESPN's wire story:

With Guerrero in right and Anderson in left, the move leaves no space in the starting outfield for Matthews Jr. The Angels said the center fielder, who signed a $50 million, five-year deal as a free agent last offseason, could see time at designated hitter and spell the corner outfielders.

OUCH. And we had griping about the Vazquez signing...

by hightowersmith on Nov 22, 2007 2:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Odd

Seems pretty obvious you'd put Matthews in left and Anderson at DH.

by Lucas on Nov 22, 2007 2:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

The next paragraph mentions HGH. Almost seems like a weird steroids backlash move to demote GMJ.

I think Gary's had a bad year.

by hightowersmith on Nov 22, 2007 2:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the Angels

have had a couple of bad years...

$50m for 5
$80m for 5

On two centerfielders, that had career years.

Here's hoping they get about as much production from this years CF pickup as last years.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Nov 22, 2007 2:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

mangaer says...

GMJ in right, vladdy DH.

by DSheppard on Nov 22, 2007 2:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x

Hunter explanation from expanded AP article:

Hunter said he also had negotiated seriously with the Texas Rangers, but he thought they were a year or two from contending.

Fair enough.

by alon91 on Nov 22, 2007 2:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I already had that figured out. Thanks anyway.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A year or two from contending?

Must be because of our awesome young foundation.

Such as?

Dont say Blalock Young, Salty or Kinsler..those are all traded/crap.

by Sharky on Nov 22, 2007 2:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh good god

Elf is the single most irritating Ticket personality since freaking Bayless.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Nov 22, 2007 7:46 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting Choice

When a free agent chooses a team, one can read between the lines and analyze a little bit what the player might have been thinking. So here goes my amatuer analysis of the Torii Hunter thought process...

The money was equal amongst several suitors, so that wasn't the key motivation, he was going to get paid. He had stated he was highly interested in playing for a winner and winning the World Series...understandable. As he looked at the six divisions, two stuck out as weak...the NL Central and the AL West. There were no real suitors from the NL Central plus the collective weakness would make it hard to predict which team would win the division. Changing leagues can also be bad for a career (see Tino Martinez), so he'll stay in the AL. He has been in the Central for a long time, so he was not interesting in any more of that. The Yankees and Red Sox weren't interested, so the East is out. So that leaves the West. In the AL West, there is a large gap between the have's and have not's...the A's are reloading, the Mariner's season was a little a fluky (plus they don't need an outfielder), and the Ranger's weaknesses are well documented.

Thus, in hindsight, it was an easy choice...the Angels. He selected a team that is a shoe-in to win their division for the foreseeable future. As the Cardinals demonstrated in '06, once in the playoffs, anything can happen.

That is not the choice I would have made, but to each his own.

Good luck Mr. Hunter, see you in April.

P.S. I hope you didn't make Mr. Padilla mad.

Proud Supporter of the Texas Rangers since 1973

by T Coleman on Nov 22, 2007 8:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Personal Alternates

I guess I shouldn't call them alternates since I was against signing Hunter for anything over 3 years.

Coco Crisp via reasonable trade (i.e. Laird + minimal prospect)
Andruw Jones 3yrs/45-50 million
Mike Cameron 3yrs/21 million
Guys already on the team (Murphy and co.)

by rangeressary on Nov 22, 2007 8:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Strange.

Must've just blown away all of the offers. It's reported the contract is 5/90. Sounds like sour grapes for losing Madrigal! :)

From the ESPN article:

Hunter said he also had negotiated seriously with the Rangers, but he thought they were a year or two from contending. The White Sox and Royals also were interested.

Colbert/Colbert '08

by rooster on Nov 22, 2007 9:03 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was amazed and delighted...

when I woke up this morning to see the news. This is great. Two shitty contracts for 2 players on their way down for the Halos in 2 years. Hunter will do better than GMJ for the first couple years and then they will have those 2 contracts to deal with when we are ready to contend.

Th Yankees of the West are at it again. Hey maybe they will try and money-whip A.J. as well! Also pretty sure Reggie Willits and Juan Rivera aren't happy. They will probably use Willits as a 4th OFer and trade Rivera...hmmm.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 22, 2007 9:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, he does improve LAAAA next year.

And, Willits can become another trade chip for Cabrera or maybe (gulp) Santana. Think the Twins would be interested in Willits, Wood, and Santana (or Saunders).

Colbert/Colbert '08

by rooster on Nov 22, 2007 9:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Any trade for Santana or Cabrera...

would have to include Kendrick imo. I know the Marlins don't want Santana and I don't think the Twins will either, Willits, maybe.

Try Kendrick, Willits, Wood, Saunders and Adenhart and perhaps the Twins would bite.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 22, 2007 9:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand

the elation at having him join LAA. We still have to compete within the division. I would bet some who are giddy today will be depressed come next summer when the Angels have taken 15 of 19 or so from the Rangers.

To the point of 2010-11, a lot can happen between now and then. I'm excited about what Daniels is doing and the overall direction, but there are no guarantees. In the meantime the Halo's appear to be a force to be reckoned with. And by having a few impact players on their roster they actually give themselves added flexibility into the future.

I'm okay with passing on Hunter at that price, but I see no good for the Rangers in his going to the Angels.

by ncrangerman on Nov 22, 2007 1:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs