Twins sign Torii Hunter to one-year, $10.5 million deal

-Torii Hunter is going home. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, Hunter has reached a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Twins.

Hunter has been linked to almost a dozen teams so far this winter, with the Rangers, Royals, Mariners and Orioles among the most aggressive in addition to Minnesota. As we reported in mid-November, the Royals and Twins were being most aggressive in their pursuits of Hunter once his last team, the Tigers, dropped out of the running, The Rangers were said to be making a push earlier today, but Rosenthal reports that the Twins made the higher offer and were able to agree to terms with Hunter.

Hunter, a first-round pick of the Twins in the 1993 draft, returns to Minnesota after spending the last seven seasons in Anaheim and Detroit. The 39-year old hit .271/.324/.469 with 192 home runs while winning seven Gold Gloves in eleven seasons with the Twins at the beginning of his career, and now returns to his original team for what may be the final chapter of his career.

Hunter will take over right field for the Twins, with Danny Santana, Oswaldo Arcia and Jordan Schafer also in the mix for outfield spots. Minnesota will be under new management next season, with Hunter's ex-teammate Paul Moltor now at the helm.