Bob Nightengale

USA TODAY Sports

Veteran outfielder Torii Hunter is coming home, agreeing Tuesday night to a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke only on the condition of anonymity since the Twins have not made the official announcement.

Hunter, torn the past week trying to decide between the Twins and the Texas Rangers, wound up choosing the team that raised him. He was drafted and signed in 1993 by the Twins, made his major league debut in 1997 and stayed through 2007. He left the Twins and signed a five-year, $90 million free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels, and then spent the last two years with the Detroit Tigers.

Now, he is returning home to Minnesota where he's expected to conclude his career.

Hunter, 39, is expected to be the Twins' everyday right fielder while also being a mentor to a young team with several excellent prospects.

Hunter, a five-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner, hit .286 with 17 homers and 83 RBI last season for the Tigers, including a .319 on-base percentage and .446 slugging percentage. He has 331 career home runs.

He was also was being heavily pursued by the Kansas City Royals, who were the first team to offer him a contract once he became a free agent.

Yet, Hunter felt almost indebted to the Twins, and always wanted to finish his career in the Twin Cities.

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