Phil Hughes agrees to deal with Minnesota Twins: report
Ron AntonelliPhil Hughes fails to live up to expectations in his seven years with the Yankees.
When he first came up, Phil Hughes figured to be in pinstripes for a long time, perhaps even topping their rotation. But the free agent righty, who found success as both a starter and reliever for the Yankees but also plenty of frustration, is heading for Minnesota.
Hughes has agreed to a three-year contract with the Twins worth $24 million, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, which cited a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The deal is likely to be announced this week once Hughes completes a physical exam.
The Yankees did not tender the one-year, $14.1-million qualifying offer to Hughes, so the team does not get a compensatory draft pick.
Hughes, 27, was the Yankees' first-round choice in the 2004 draft, 23rd overall, and he made his major-league debut in 2007 at age 20. The Yanks believed they were stockpiling high-end young arms in Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, another free agent who is expected to depart, and both were saddled early with outsized expectations.
Hughes garnered early comparisons to Roger Clemens and none other than Joe Torre pushed for him to move quickly through the Yankee system.
He was a key reliever on the 2009 World Series champions and won 18 games as a starter the next year and made the All-Star team. Injuries wrecked his 2011 season, limiting him to just 17 games. He won 16 games in 2012, but cratered last season, going 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA. He always had trouble with the longball, allowing 59 in 337 innings over the last two seasons in the slugger's paradise that is the Stadium.
Hughes' deal is the Twins' second-largest contract for a free agent coming from another club, the Star-Tribune said. Ricky Nolasco, who agreed to a four-year, $49-million pact last week, would hold the top spot if he passes his physical.
Pitcher-friendly Target Field seems to be a better home park for Hughes, who has a 2.53 ERA in three starts there. He's only allowed one homer in 21.1 innings at Target Field.
The Twins have been interested in Hughes in the past - they wanted him when they were shopping Johan Santana to the Yanks after the 2007 season.
When the Yankees were wrapping up their 2013 season in Houston, Hughes seemed to be prepared for his Yankee career to be over as he reflected on the first seven years of his career and they hype that he and Chamberlain received.
'You always assume it's going to turn out like the guys who were here before us - five World Series, Hall of Fame careers,' Hughes said then. 'But how you envision things, sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Not to say that all of a sudden our careers are over, but maybe it hasn't gone the way people had hoped. But I feel like I'm young and can do some things.'
Hughes added: 'I certainly wouldn't change playing here. It's been great. When things are good, this is the best place to be and sometimes when things aren't going so well, it can weigh on you here a little bit more. But you know that coming in.'
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