Torii Hunter has been a loyal soldier for the Twins for 14 years, but he's in the last year of his contract. Since the Twins' low payroll keeps them out of the free agent market and forces them to build with low-salary prospects from within the organization, Hunter is aware that this is probably his last year in Twins' pinstripes:"This is my home. I've been here, in this organization, what, 14 years? I don't want to leave home," Hunter tells me, the stereo thumping behind him and his teammates milling around on a brilliant March morning. "But if Mama kicks me out, then I gotta go. She pays the bills."In classic Torii talk -- Hunter is one of the most gregarious, fun-loving, easy-goingest players in baseball -- "Mama" is the only man that counts when it comes to the Twins.
"Mama? Carl Pohlad is Mama," says Hunter, laughing at the idea of the Twins' owner. "And if Mama wants me out of the house, it's time to go."
This has been a kind of sadly sweet past few months for Hunter, the Twins' 31-year-old center fielder. He watched with more than a little interest as the free-agent market for outfielders went wacko this winter ...
It's got to be a sadly sweet time for Twins fans, too, who have watched Hunter go from green prospect into one of the steadier (albeit not brilliant) offensive center fielders in the league. Defensively, Hunter always seems one or two plays away from a highlight-making catch. It'll hurt the Twins to lose him, sure, but Twins fans can also look on like proud parents when Hunter gets a huge deal next year.
