The Minnesota Twins are unlikely to be able to re-sign Torii Hunter who will likely leave in free agency after the World Series. He will command top dollar and he appears to have many, many suitors willing to pay for his services. The Twins will miss Hunter’s productive bat but they will miss his stellar defense much more. Hunter finishes his career with the Twins having played in 1,234 games and he was 1,218 for 4,492 (.271 avg, .793 OPS) with 672 runs scored, 192 homers, 711 RBIs and 126 stolen bases. The Twins will miss Hunter both on and off the field starting in 2008.

Lew Ford rejected his outright assignment to the minors and he has become an unrestricted free agent.  Ford had a tough season for the Twins last year as he worked in 55 games and he was 27 for 116 (.233 avg, .677 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers and 14 RBIs.  Ford did good work in his career for the Twins and he will be missed for his all out hustle.  He played in 494 games for the Twins and he was 412 of 1,514 (.272 avg, .751 OPS) with 228 runs scored, 32 homers, 172 RBIs and 47 stolen bases.  Ford will be gone next season but not forgotten.

The Twins have lost reserve infielder Luis Rodriguez on waivers to the Padres.  He had an off season with the bat for the Twins this year.  He played in 68 games and he was 34 for 155 (.219 avg, .584 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs.  Rodriguez played in 206 games for the Twins over three seasons and he was 108 for 445 (.243 avg, .650 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 6 homers and 38 RBIs.  The Twins won’t miss Rodriguez at all next season or in the future.