Minnesota signed Torii Hunter to a four-year, $32M contract on Friday. The deal reportedly includes a $2M buyout on a $12M option for the 2007 season. Insuring Hunter will remain with the team for the next few years was an important step in keeping the club competitive. Most of other veterans are easily replaceable by prospects emerging from the minors who should be just as good if not better than the major league players.

The Twins drafted Hunter out of high school with the 20th overall pick of the first round of the 1993 draft. He did not breeze through the system particularly quickly, and though he made his major league debut on August 22, 1997, he returned to the minors 1998 and a portion of 2000.

Hunter's production would jump considerably if he'd take a few more walks. However, he offers a solid combination of speed and power. This contract should span the 27-year-old's prime, though I doubt Minnesota will want to pick up his option year unless he takes his skills to the next level. In addition to his on-field value, Hunter also offers the Twins the bonus of a player who is a fan favorite and a rallying force for the team. The price and length of this deal are likely exactly what I would have offered in the Twins' place. Hunter's rightly pleased that he'll be able to remain with the Twins and won't have to face the uncertainties of the free agent market any time soon. Reportedly, he plans to use a good portion of his new wealth to buy houses for his family members.

Minnesota now faces arbitration with Jacque Jones and Doug Mientkiewicz. I expect them to settle on a $3M one-year deal with Jones and avoid arbitration. However, I think it's likely that they'll complete a hearing with Mientkiewicz. I believe they have a good chance of beating him, given they're offering him $450,000 more than the going $1M rate for first basemen of his ilk and Mienkiewicz wants $2.05M.

Minnesota has yet to sign any free agents to major league deals, though it looks like they will add a veteran right-handed reliever to the team before Spring Training begins. However, the club has signed a number of players to minor league deals, including LHP Mike Duvall, RHP Kevin Hodges, RHP Everett Stull, and SS-R Chris Gomez.

Duvall underwent Tommy John surgery and missed all of the 2002 season. The 28-year-old has had considerable control problems in the past, but if he returns strong he'd be a candidate for a mid-season call-up if the Twins needed a lefty.

Kansas City drafted Hodges out of high school in the 8th round of the 1991 draft. The Royals advanced him slowly as he struggled with his control. As a minor league free agent he signed with Houston1998, but the Astros traded him to Seattle for Matt Mieske in 1999, and the Mariners sold him to Japan in 2001. He remained in Japan last season, compiling a 132:67 K:BB with 183 H and 15 HR allowed in 200.2 IP for a 3.41 ERA as a starter. Given the number of pitchers the Twins have returning from last season and vying for bullpen slots, I don't expect the 29-year-old to break camp with the team, but he's an option to make spot starts for them and should be considered for the pen.

Montreal's third round pick out of Tennessee State in 1992, Stull has yet do perform well in the majors, though he compiled decent numbers at Milwaukee's AAA affiliate last season. In 151 IP, he allowed 149 H and 13 HR with a 119:49 K:BB for a 3.87 ERA while starting. Like Hodges, the 31-year-old doesn't seem likely to break onto the major league team in the spring, but he should be considered for spot starts and bullpen work.

I thought the Devil Rays were foolish to non-tender Chris Gomez, and he seems like an excellent pick-up for the Twins, who could use some depth in the middle infield where they don't have the backlog of prospects they possess at other positions. The 31-year-old's plate discipline leaves something to be desired, but he offers marginal power skills. He could break camp as a reserve and will definitely be at the top of the list if they need an injury replacement.

Meanwhile, Tampa has signed Marlon Anderson to a one-year, $600,000 contract, which includes plate appearance based incentives. Anderson will compete with Brent Abernathy for the starting second base job in Spring Training. However the Devil Rays have also expressed an interest in expanding his positional flexibility, which would increase his usefulness as a bench player. While he offers marginal speed and power skills, his primary problem has always been his plate discipline. I think retaining Gomez would have been a wiser move, but the 31-year-old does give them some additional options.

Steve Parris signed a one-year, $400,000 split contract with numerous incentives. He'll reportedly receive $25,000 for when he reaches 18 and 20 starts, as well as $75,000 for 22 starts and every two starts after that up to 32 starts. Additionally, if he fails to make the team he can ask for release. The 35-year-old Parris lacks the command to truly deserve a rotation job. However, given his past major league experience and the youth of their starters, I expect the Devil Rays to consider him as an innings-eater.