ANAHEIM, Calif. — Vladimir Guerrero finally will have some protection in the batting order.
The Los Angeles Angels, who have been trying to land another strong hitter for several years, agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal late Wednesday with free agent Torii Hunter, who hit .297 with 28 homers and drove in 107 runs for Minnesota this season.
The deal is subject to Hunter’s passing a physical.
A seven-time Gold Glove winner, the 32-year-old Hunter will be the everyday center fielder and hit in the middle of the lineup, making it tougher for opposing pitchers to pitch around Guerrero.
Although Hunter’s arrival seems to make last season’s center fielder, Gary Matthews Jr., odd man out in an outfield with Guerrero in right and Anderson in left, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said it would give him more options.
He plans to rotate players at DH and use Matthews to spell Guerrero and Anderson.
“Torii is going to be in center field virtually every day. Gary will be in the outfield almost every day, so the other two guys will split up the DH,” Scioscia said in a conference call. “We want all four of those bats in the lineup.”
Matthews was in New York this month to meet with baseball officials and discuss allegations that he received human grown hormone. Matthews has denied using HGH.
New general manager Tony Reagins said he has no indications Matthews might be suspended.
Acquiring Hunter could lead to trading Matthews — perhaps to the Baltimore Orioles for shortstop Miguel Tejada.
