Hunter: 'I'm sure [Crawford's] a lot happier'

ANAHEIM -- Torii Hunter told WEEI.com after his Angels' 5-2 win over the Red Sox Thursday night that he wasn't shocked that Carl Crawford accepted a trade out of Boston.

Hunter had served as the Angels' chief recruiter when it came to trying to lure Crawford to Anaheim prior to the 2011 season.

"I wasn't surprised," Hunter said. "He shouldn't have done it the first time. I can't say, 'I told you so,' because it just didn't work out for him. Now that he's out there in LA [with the Dodgers] I'm sure he's a lot happier."

Despite Hunter's assertion that Crawford would be welcoming the change, the 37-year-old outfielder said he wouldn't be averse to joining the Red Sox as a free agent this offseason.

Hunter, who is in the final season of a five-year, $90 million deal, cited his relationship with former Minnesota teammate David Ortiz as a chief reason he would consider playing in Boston.

"I'm open to anybody, especially if David is there," said Hunter, who is making $18 million in '12. "David is one of my guys. We were roommates in Minnesota and he's one of my brothers. He's one of my best friends in baseball. That makes it more impressive. 

"Right now I'm open. My main goal is to stay here, though."

The right-handed-hitting Hunter is a career .330 hitter in Fenway Park, carrying an .869 OPS at the home of the Red Sox.

Hunter entered Thursday night hitting .294 with a .777 OPS, hitting 12 homers and stealing seven bases. He has exclusively played right field for the past two seasons.

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