The Minnesota Twins and free agent right-hander Phil Hughes have agreed to a three-year contract worth $24 million. The deal is pending a physical. Hughes went 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA and a 2.88 K/BB in 145 2/3 innings across 29 starts and one relief appearance for the Yankees in 2013.
The Twins are counting on Hughes to return to form. He was a first round pick in 2004 and an All-Star in 2010 when he went 18-8 with a 4.19 ERA and was shaping up as a building block for the Yankees’ rotation.
A year ago he went 16-13 with a 4.23 ERA and a 3.59 K/BB in 191 1/3 innings. Perhaps the biggest help for Hugehs will be getting away form New York and Yankee Stadium.
The Twins hope that a transition to Target Field, a much more spacious ballpark than Yankee Stadium will help re-establish Hughes’ career. He has never pitched more that 200 innings in a season and has spent time on the DL in his career for back and shoulder issues.
Earlir this week the Twin signed Ricky Nolasco to a four-year, $49 million contract. Hughes and Nolasco will join Kevin Correia in the starting five, with Samuel Deduno, Andrew Albers, Scott Diamond and Liam Hendriks competing for the final two spots.
Having lost 96 games in each of the past three season the Twins have been aggressive upgrading their pitching this offseason. Last year their starters has a MLB worst ERA of 5.26. They have committed $73 million on Hughes and Nolasco
Twins News and Rumors
Rumors persist that the team may be interested in Bronson Arroyo and Matt Garza. The club could also bring back veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who started his career in Minnesota but was traded to make room for Joe Mauer. Mauer will be moving to first base in 2014 creating a need behind the plate.
