Torii Hunter is on his way to Detroit instead of The Bronx, but according to a source, the Yankees haven’t changed their mindset about 2013.
The Yankees stayed on Hunter until the end, but ultimately never made an offer before he signed a reported two-year, $26 million deal with the Tigers yesterday.
Instead, the Yankees remain committed to focusing on pitching and building a rotation behind CC Sabathia.
And that means waiting on Andy Pettitte, who has yet to inform the Yankees of his plans for next year, as well as Hiroki Kuroda.
After turning down the Yankees’ $13.3 million qualifying offer, Kuroda could resign with the Yankees or head back to the Dodgers if he doesn’t return to Japan.
The Yankees could also pursue a trade for Ricky Nolasco. The right-hander has one year and $11.5 million remaining on his deal with the Marlins. Nolasco has been mediocre since a good 2008 season and turns 30 next month.
Team president Randy Levine insisted at the owners’ meetings in Rosemont, Ill., that Hunter’s signing, as well as the trade that sent Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson — among others — from Miami to Toronto wouldn’t impact how the Yankees conducted their business.
“No, I don’t think so,” Levine said. “We’re on the same course. We’ve won a lot of winters and not won the World Series, so we’re on a plan.”
Regardless, the Yankees still need to find a new right fielder since Nick Swisher is all but gone, looking for a multi-year deal.
And their path to the World Series may have gotten more difficult with Hunter’s presence at Comerica Park. The 37-year-old seemed confident about the Tigers’ chances yesterday.
“Found a job!” Hunter said on Twitter. “Headed to Motown to win that ring!”
The Yankees remained interested in Hunter until the end, but it was clear pretty quickly that his first choice was Detroit.
— Additional reporting by Ken Davidoff
in Rosemont, Ill.