Torii Hunter agrees to give up center field for Angels

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Acknowledging that ‘we need to do something different,’ the Angels’ Torii Hunter has agreed to let prospect Peter Bourjos take over in center field, with Hunter moving to right field for the opening game of a series against Baltimore.

It is the first time Hunter has played in the field and started at a position other than center field since 1999.

‘All I want to do is win,’ said Hunter, who stressed that the decision to cede the position at which he has won nine Gold Gloves was his. ‘If this makes the team better, I’m going to do it. ... Sometimes you have to slap pride in the face.’

Hunter admitted that the Angels’ outfield defense had been a ‘big problem,’ but with Hunter in right, Bourjos in center and Bobby Abreu in left, the team’s coverage should be more than adequate.

‘This guy can fly,’ Hunter said of Bourjos, who was hitting .314 with 13 homers for triple-A Salt Lake before his promotion Tuesday. ‘We have to give the kid a chance.’

-- Ben Bolch in Baltimore