MINNEAPOLIS -- Torii Hunter has chased a ring before.
When he left the Twins after the 2007 season, he joined an Angels team that had a chance to win a World Series. It was the same case in 2013 when Hunter signed with the Detroit Tigers, a roster loaded with big bats and big arms. But those quests have yielded zero championships for Hunter, who remains without a World Series ring after 18 big-league seasons.
It was expected that Hunter might sign with a team expected to contend in 2015 when he hit free agency this winter. Instead, Hunter is back where his career started as a first-round draft pick in 1993. The Twins announced Wednesday that Hunter has signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract to return to the franchise that drafted him more than 20 years ago.
"Minnesota was my heart," Hunter said Wednesday at a press conference to re-introduce him. "I have desires, which was to win a championship. One reason I left (after 2007) is because I wanted to go win a championship. . . . I definitely think that me coming here was a no-brainer."
At 39 years old -- he'll turn 40 in July -- Hunter is at the tail end of his career. It was assumed that the Twins brought him in almost as much to mentor the team's younger players just as much as for his on-field production.
But Hunter insists he can still play. Last season with the Tigers, he batted .286 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI. He's not the same player he was the last time he wore a Twins uniform, but Minnesota believes he has enough left in the tank.
"I've got some bullets left," Hunter said.
Twins general manager Terry Ryan confirmed Wednesday that Hunter will be the team's right fielder, while Oswaldo Arcia will move to left field. Hunter played 142 games for Detroit last year, including 128 in right field.
The Twins' front office believes Hunter's defense is still good enough to play on an everyday basis, but advanced metrics suggest that Hunter has struggled in right field as of late. FanGraphs had Hunter's Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) in 2014 as -18.3, the worst among all qualified right fielders.
"I saw him I think maybe seven games or so. His defense, for me, was more than adequate," Ryan said. "He's not 25 anymore, as everybody knows. He's probably a tick slower than he used to be. But as far as routes, jumps, angles, instincts, accuracy of arm, release, throwing to the right base and so forth, those things are still in tact."
Hunter became a fan favorite in Minnesota in part because of his fearless defense in center field. He would crash into walls, leap up to rob home runs, or slide across the turf at the Metrodome to make plays. Though he's not that type of player anymore, he doesn't buy into the advanced statistics that say his defense is among the worst in the league.
"Eyes are your judge," Hunter said. "Whoever believes in that sabermetrics stuff never played the game and won't understand it. There's no way you can measure playing the outfield. Only the eyes can do that."
Hunter enters a clubhouse in which he's far and away the most experienced player. He's more than a decade older than most of his new Twins teammates, many of whom have only a year or two of major-league experience.
Though he's the elder statesman of the locker room, Hunter believes he can bring more than just a veteran presence to the Twins in 2015. Still, having him as a mentor will certainly be an added bonus.
"To have his presence, I think our guys are learning about what it takes every day, both to prepare and to play and the passion that you bring," said new Twins manager Paul Molitor, who was Hunter's teammate briefly in 1997 and 1998 with Minnesota. "But a guy who's been through it and has done it so professionally will be a big plus for us, there's no doubt about that."
Given that the Twins have lost 90-plus games in each of the last four seasons, it's unlikely that they'll be in contention for a World Series in 2015. It will be Hunter's 19th year in the majors, and possibly his last. The thought of winning a World Series ring is still on his mind, and there's a chance Hunter -- who has a full no-trade clause in his contract -- could wind up on a contender at the trading deadline.
If not, Hunter seems at peace with potentially ending his career where it started.
"I don't want to go anywhere. This is where I want to be," Hunter said. "I'm in it for the long haul. If they're willing to do it, I know there's business decisions that have to be made for the future of the club. . . . But I really want to be here."
Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter
