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          Source: Dodgers chasing Torii Hunter

          • Mark Saxon, ESPN Staff WriterNov 10, 2012, 02:16 PM ET
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              Mark Saxon covers the St. Louis Cardinals for ESPN.com. He served as the Dodgers team reporter for ESPNLosAngeles.com. through the 2015 season. He spent six years at the Orange County Register, and began his career at the Oakland Tribune, where he started an 11-year journey covering Major League Baseball. He has also covered colleges, including USC football and UCLA basketball.
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          LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have approached free agent outfielder Torii Hunter about a two-year contract, according to a major league source.

          The Dodgers' thinking is to use Hunter as an insurance policy as left fielder Carl Crawford's recovery from elbow surgery crosses into early next season, but they also have made it clear to other teams that they would consider trading Andre Ethier.

          Hunter also has been pursued by the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and one other American League team. The Yankees have talked to Hunter's agent about a one-year contract.

          Hunter, 37, is a nine-time Gold Glove winner coming off one of his finest seasons. He batted .313 with 16 home runs and 92 RBIs for the Los Angeles Angels, who did not extend a qualifying offer to him. Because of that, any team that signs Hunter would not have to surrender a draft pick.

          Hunter, who's spent the last five seasons with the Angels, is close friends with Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp and owns a home in Newport Coast, Calif.