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Free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter agreed to a two-year contract Wednesday with the Detroit Tigers in the biggest free-agent signing so far this offseason, an official with direct knowledge of the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
Hunter, 37, who spent the last five years with the Los Angeles Angels, rejected overtures from seven other teams to sign with the Tigers, replacing Delmon Young in the starting lineup.
Hunter, who scheduled a visit last weekend with the Tigers on Tuesday, was overwhelmed by Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, president David Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland in his afternoon meeting. He informed the Tigers at the meeting's conclusion that he wanted to immediately sign with the Tigers, and if they met his demand, he'd sign without talking further to any other clubs.
The Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves were also heavily in the mix when Hunter chose the Tigers, but each were balking at giving him a two-year deal.
Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, is expected to bat second in the powerful Tigers' lineup. He hit .343 with an .854 on-base percentage in 381 plate appearances batting second for the Angels in 2012. He hit a career-high .313 with 16 homers and 92 RBI last year, and is a career .277 hitter with 297 homers, 1,143 RBI and 1,068 runs.
Hunter also is quite familiar with the Tigers having spent the first 11 years of his career with the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. The only visiting player to have played more games at Comerica Park is Chicago White Sox DH Paul Konerko. Hunter also will be just a 3 ½-hour drive from his son, Torii Hunter Jr., who was scheduled to sign a letter-of-intent Wednesday with Notre Dame to play football and baseball.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
Hunter, 37, who spent the last five years with the Los Angeles Angels, rejected overtures from seven other teams to sign with the Tigers, replacing Delmon Young in the starting lineup.
Hunter, who scheduled a visit last weekend with the Tigers on Tuesday, was overwhelmed by Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, president David Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland in his afternoon meeting. He informed the Tigers at the meeting's conclusion that he wanted to immediately sign with the Tigers, and if they met his demand, he'd sign without talking further to any other clubs.
The Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves were also heavily in the mix when Hunter chose the Tigers, but each were balking at giving him a two-year deal.
Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, is expected to bat second in the powerful Tigers' lineup. He hit .343 with an .854 on-base percentage in 381 plate appearances batting second for the Angels in 2012. He hit a career-high .313 with 16 homers and 92 RBI last year, and is a career .277 hitter with 297 homers, 1,143 RBI and 1,068 runs.
Hunter also is quite familiar with the Tigers having spent the first 11 years of his career with the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. The only visiting player to have played more games at Comerica Park is Chicago White Sox DH Paul Konerko. Hunter also will be just a 3 ½-hour drive from his son, Torii Hunter Jr., who was scheduled to sign a letter-of-intent Wednesday with Notre Dame to play football and baseball.
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