A local Minnesota news station reported last night that Torii Hunter and the White Sox were close to signing a long-term deal. They seemed to assume that just because of the trade yesterday in which the Sox acquired Orlando Cabrera and 1.5 million in cash in exchange for Jon Garland, a deal was all but done for Hunter now that the Sox had freed up extra cash to throw at the feet of the talented centerfielder.

Meanwhile, Hunter is in Texas being wined and dined by the Rangers brass much like Ole Tex threw all the finest booze and broads in the state at Johnny Walker in the 1988 sports flick Johnny Be Good. Okay, maybe it's not quite like that but it does appear that Hunter is still very much out exploring his options and having a good time along the way.

I won't be surprised to read about Hunter sitting courtside next to Jack Nicholson at a Lakers game or being Derek Jeter's wingman for a night on the town in New York City in the upcoming weeks. Such is life as the most coveted free agent on the market.

Back in Minnesota, the Twins understand that they can't compete financially with the large market teams for Hunter so they've taken the BFF approach by trading for Hunter's BFF Craig Monroe. In Johnny Be Good, Walker (played by a buff Anthony Michael Hall) ends up turning down the Ole Tex scumbags and deep-pocketed Piermont University for State University' to stay close to his family, his hottie (played by Uma Thurman) and his BFF (played by an undoubtedly coked out Robert Downey, Jr.).

Will Hunter make a similar sentimental decision after all of the prime rib has been digested and Hunter returns home to his friends and family in the Twin Cities? I think it's too early to say it's not still a possibility.

While White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams would love to get Hunter signed as quickly as possible in order to put the rest of his offseason moves into ...

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