Shortly after his team was swept out of the ALDS by the Orioles, Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter says he is strongly considering retirement, MLive.com’s Chris Iott reports. “It’s 100 percent serious, bro. I have been thinking about it a long time,” Hunter said, via Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Hunter finished the ALDS 2-for-10 (both hits were singles) with two walks. During the regular season, he hit .286/.319/.446 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI, which are all eerily similar to his output in 2013. However, the stats and the scouts both suggest that the 39-year-old has lost a step or two defensively and he hasn’t been productive on the bases for years.
If Hunter chooses to call it quits, he’ll have played 16 full seasons in the majors with the Twins, Angels, and Tigers. Hunter will certainly create an interesting Hall of Fame debate as well. Of course, this could also simply be the frustration of Sunday night’s loss taking effect. Hunter is eligible for free agency and there is no indication yet if the Tigers feel one way or another about bringing him back.