Torii Hunter spoke with Twins president Derek Falvey last week, but the longtime Minnesota outfielder specified to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that it was just an informal chat, and not an interview in regards to the team’s open managerial position. However, Hunter said he already has a coaching staff mostly lined up if he ever gets a chance to become a manager, and he seems open to the possibility of a return to Minnesota.
“I guess they’re slow-rolling the process right now; I’m just sitting waiting. If the opportunity presents itself, then it would be something I would look into, think long and hard about…..Now it’s about a conversation to see where they’re headed, what their thoughts are, and then I’m pretty sure they’re going to see what I want to do with the team, who I’m going to bring aboard, my staff,” Hunter said.
Hunter already surfaced as a candidate in the Angels’ managerial search before the team hired Kurt Suzuki — like Hunter, a veteran ex-player with no formal managerial/coaching experience who had been working as a special assistant in the Halos’ front office. Despite Hunter’s interest, it isn’t clear if the Twins are still considering him or any other candidates, as the team has reportedly settled on at least four finalists (Ryan Flaherty, James Rowson, Scott Servais, and Derek Shelton) in their search.
More from around the AL Central….
- Carl Willis will be back as the Guardians’ pitching coach next season, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. It will be Willis’ 16th overall season in the job, over two separate stints (2003-09, and 2018-present) in Cleveland. The widely-respected Willis is viewed as one of the key reasons the Guards have been so good at developing their pitchers into successful or even elite starters at the MLB level. There had been some speculation that Willis could be considering retirement as he approaches his 65th birthday in December, but he’ll instead continue a baseball career that has lasted for over four decades as a player and coach.
- Troy Melton was “a popular name in trade talks” for rival teams calling the Tigers prior to his big league debut in July, MLB.com’s Jason Beck writes. Rather than deal Melton for a more proven pitcher at the deadline, Detroit instead relied on Melton himself to deliver, and the rookie posted a 2.76 ERA over 45 2/3 innings in the regular season and then a 5.40 ERA in 8 1/3 playoff frames. Typical of Detroit’s “pitching chaos” strategy, Melton (a starter in the minors) worked out of the bullpen in 15 of his 20 overall games in the Show. Now lined up for a full-time starting role in 2026, Melton would seem to have a good shot at winning a spot in the Tigers’ rotation.
It makes me feel old that I remember when Carl was pitching for the Reds.
It makes me feel old that he is only five years older than me. I remember him as a player as well and always thought he was quite a bit older.
Won 8 games out of the bullpen for the Twins in their 1991 championship season. I remember having a bunch of his early 90’s Twins cards. Guess I’m starting to feel old now too…
Not sure if Spiderman has the makings of a good manager, but he was a very entertaining player even as a fan of division rival. The swagger makes me hope Twins hire him like former player Ozzie came back. Being outspoken and not a yes man to FO goes against hiring decisions past several years.
Seems to call his level of commitment in question if after several years of expressing the desire to manage he won’t get managerial or coaching experience.
That’s because he wants no other coaching position but the manager position. It would be nice to see him just take a hitting coach or bench coach role, but he won’t do it.
Yet weirdly he already has his own coaching staff in mind. Served as a solid veteran mentor on a young Twins team when he came back to finish his career. Not being willing to cut his teeth on a coaching staff but wanting the top job because…reasons, might be why he isn’t getting more interviews
I don’t see anything weird. New managers selecting their own coaches are pretty much the norm. If anything, he’s coming in to this prepared.
Because the manager makes decisions with the front office. It’s not a one man show manage from your gut game anymore. If you’re asking for the manager to be fired you 1. Don’t understand current baseball 2. Should be asking for the entire front office to be replaced as well
Melton pitched in two games prior to the trade deadline. In the first, he got shelled for 6 runs in 5 innings, but looked good the last 2-3 innings. In the second game, he threw 7 shutout innings. It was only after the trade deadline that the Tigers learned to trust Melton.
Yes. His debut against the Pirates skewed his stats. I’ve been saying he was the second best starter type after about his 3rd outing. Very impressive and not for sale.
They didn’t trade Melton, Clark, McGonigle, or anyone else of value in the minors, and now they are sitting at home, blowing a pretty easy shot through Seattle, Toronto, and possibly the Dodgers had they acquired a front line starter and a bat or two. Congrats, Scott Harris!
The bats supposedly on market at deadline were pretty thin. Renting slugger Suarez didn’t even do well for M’s and AZ got decent return. It was offense upgrade they clearly needed, but even then Toronto offense probably would’ve won ALCS anyhow had Tigers advanced.
I’ve got a feeling The Tigers could have gotten a useful starter during the trade deadline WITHOUT trading McGonigle, Clark or Melton….they just didn’t try hard or maybe Harris doesn’t negotiate well.
I think he was being prudent. His conservative approach will (and without a doubt) pay big dividends down the road. I don’t think you give up farm pieces unless you have a real chance at winning the World Series. There wasn’t a point in this past season where I believed they could get past the Dodgers (first and foremost). They swept the Tigers to open the season.
The Dodgers are still going to be there in 2026, and who knows? They could get Alonso, Tucker, Cease, and others. I don’t think Illich is going to break the bank for anyone, and the Tigers aren’t guaranteed to be in first that late in the season in 2026. Skubal will be gone after that, and boom! Window is shut. 2025 was their best chance, and either ownership knew that and didn’t want to spend money, or Harris is an idiot.
When those top prospects come up and produce for the tigers make sure you don’t cheer them on. Make sure you tell you should have been traded. When people look at you dumbfound at how dumb you look soak that moment in.
Getting swept was 100% Hinch’s fault.
Pinch hit Sweeney in an RBI situation, taking out a guy who was having career game as he fought for his MLB career. The guys’ MLB career doesn’t exist anymore…Hinch flushed the man’s career by doing that – by not letting the man prove himself. Probably ruined the guys’ life = because of a wild.hair up somewhere…gotta put in wb rookie, to give.the wb a chance.to be a star. floundered.
Look at the tapes. RBi situation for.the Dodgers…..the right side of.the infield….WIDE OPEN..
Way to position gloves, dude…
Hinch has forgotten there are still people.who actually PLAY BASEBALL AND.NOT HOME.RUN DERBY.
All 3 of.those games.were lost by Hinch.
Look at the tapes. Look at where he.positions infield with runner in scoring position. Some is completely idiotic.
I sure hope they win a ring with those guys. When you look dumb in a few years with these guys giving the Tigers a .500 record unable to get past the first round of the playoffs and Skubal winning the Dodgers a 5th title in a row, you know where to find me.
Not so fast @thatsIT. Yes, those top prospects will come up and produce – just like the crop of Greene, Tork, Skubal, et al. The question is … can any given roster get over the top and win a WS trophy since 1984? Skubal has limited shelf life – if you don’t try to enhance the roster to win it all in 2025 or 2026 – when do you?
The Tigers are going to be leaps and bounds better in 2027 than they were this year. I’d say 2026, but there’s no guarantee that those big bats on the farm will be up. The offense will be a massive guys!
You don’t need to. MLB playoffs are a crapshoot you just need to make it every year and eventually you’ll likely win one.
It would have been very foolish to trade Melton, Clark, or McGonigle. The current team really isn’t that good, poor hitting. These prospects are the wave that puts the Tigers into true contention. Hopefully they can pick up a pitcher and 3B for Skubal.
They are good! They just hit a cold snap with the bats. How did they smear the competition in the first half if they couldn’t hit? These prospects aren’t going to magically develop in less than a year, and if they can’t keep Skubal or develop a starter as good as he is, their window is over. Cleveland and KC aren’t going to be doormats for long. They missed their chance by not going for it.
If the Tigers take the big haul for a trade, then Melton will be the ace upcoming. It may be that Soros wont want another Harper situation where the A.A.V falls into a Q.O range. There’s no hard feelings as everybody wants to maximize the money they make. Yamamoto is looking very impressive pitching complete games.
I think every Tiger fan would like to see Melton pitch in Detroit for a very long time. He’s got the look when he’s on the mound. It’s going to be interesting to see what Detroit ends up doing. Trade for a big haul, then try to out bid for Skubal, or try for the world series with him and take a Q.O pick. Whatever they end up doing having a Troy Melton is very good for Detroit. GO TIGERS !
Seems like Tori is ready, willing.and able…..
I hope he gets the chance!
I always liked Torii. He seemed like a positive influence in the clubhouse as a player and would naturally have some good leadership qualities. I was always hoping he would end up as a MGR in DET someday.
Another guy who seems to be well liked is Brayan Pena. Hope the Tigers keep him around. Maybe he could be the new 1B coach? I think he’d have a very positive impact on the clubhouse.
Those two guys seem to keep things up and lively.