Report: Blue Jays among teams pursuing Torii Hunter
The Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams pursuing veteran outfielder Torii Hunter as they look to replace Melky Cabrera, who's likely to sign elsewhere as a free agent this winter, reported Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Hunter, an 18-year veteran, remains undecided about whether he'll return for another season in 2015, but the five-time All-Star has nonetheless drawn interest from numerous teams, including the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals.
A nine-time Gold Glove-award winner, Hunter's defensive efforts in right field last season were not well received by Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved. The 39-year-old continued to produce at the plate for the Detroit Tigers, however, while appearing in more than 140 games for a fifth successive year.
| Season | G | wRC+ | BB% | K% | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 140 | 131 | 6.5 % | 22.8 % | 16 |
| 2013 | 144 | 117 | 4.0 % | 17.3 % | 17 |
| 2014 | 142 | 113 | 3.9 % | 15.2 % | 17 |
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, aren't confident they'll be able to re-sign Cabrera, who reportedly rejected a three-year, $39-million offer from the club earlier this offseason.