Torii Hunter Joins Angels for Five Years and $90 Million

Outfielder Torii Hunter has much to be thankful for today, signing the richest deal in Los Angeles Angels history.

For a mere $90 million, according to the
Los Angeles Times.

The Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals were also in the bidding for Hunter, an All-Star who played his entire nine-year career with the Minnesota Twins.
The move is a surprising one for the Angels, who appeared secure with Gary Matthews Jr., who a year ago signed a five-year, $50 mlllion deal.

But Matthews could be facing a suspension in 2008. He recently met with Commissioner Bud Selig about a shipment of human growth hormone sent to him by a pharmacy being investigated for illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

Hunter, a seven-times Gold Glove-winning outfielder, said the deal with the Angels was put together over the last several days. And it stunned him.

"They shocked me," Hunter said during conference call. "I wanted to be with these guys. I thought maybe they didn't need a center fielder like me. They shocked the world. I love these guys . . . I want to say thank you guys for choosing me. I'm honored. Now I'm an Angel. I'm going to hopefully finish my career as a Halo, and hopefully get about three (World Series) rings out of this thing."

Hunter batted .287 with 28 homers and a career-high 107 RBIs in 2007, making the American League All-Star team for the second time in his career.

Quite a Thanksgiving Day coup for the Angels, who also have perennial All-Star Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson in their outfield rotation. The Angels instantly become the 2008 favorite in the American League West with the addition of Hunter.