The really nice thing about Hughes' season is that nothing about it screams fluke, luck or regression. He was one of the top overall pitching prospects a few years back. While inconsistent, he has shown flashes with the Yankees in the past, including some good seasons and very good stretches. He's still young, and has a solid frame; meaning durable and strong, no unexpected sudden loss in velocity as he hits 30.

 

And to top it off, considering his splits of home vs road when with the Yankees, you could argue this season was almost expected. Almost. You still have to go out and do it. And he has. I believe there may even be room for some improvement, but I'll take a repeat season with no worries.

 

As stated, when Hughes takes the mound, I actually expect a win, as opposed to crossing my fingers and thinking there is a chance.

 

He's not quite there yet, still a little too inconsistent, but I pretty much feel the same way when Gibson takes the mound. What a great pair to begin your rotation with! Now...if Nolasco in 2015 is the guy we thought he was, and the guy he mostly has been previously......

I agree that if the Twins were smart they would check out the prospects of extending Hughes. 3/36 extension would be a great deal.

 

He signed for three years because the Twins offered it. He wanted some certainty. I imagine he would be open to signing an extension here.

 

My imagination is sometimes off, though.

If Hughes has another season like this one then the extension goes from something like 3/40 (plus the 2/16 left) to 4/64 to 5/80 (plus the 1/8 left).  A big part of the reason is that he will only have 1 yr left before FA and there seems to be a big mindset change when players are that close.

 

The other consideration is that a 3 yr extension locks him up through age 32.  A 5 yr extension next offseason locks him up age 34/35. 

The first time the Twins were rumored to be trying to acquire Hughes was back when they were looking for a trade partner for Santana - wasn't a Hughes / Melky / Ian Kennedy package mentioned? That does seem like a lifetime ago.

 

It would be interesting if the Twins do manage to go after Cabrera in the offseason and end up with 2 of the guys they might have acquired for Johan so long ago. 

 

The offer on the table was Hughes and Austin Jackson (and another guy who didn't make it). The Twins held out for the addition of another guy (who also didn't make it). 

The offer on the table was Hughes and Austin Jackson (and another guy who didn't make it). The Twins held out for the addition of another guy (who also didn't make it). 

 

Melky, Kennedy, Hughes and Jeff Marquez was the Twins' rumored request for Santana

 

http://nypost.com/2008/01/15/still-playing/

 

I agree that the Yankees did not offer that specific package, just that those were the players rumored to be in play for a trade to NNY for Santana. If they did offer that, the Twins would have taken it over what the Mets offered.

Melky, Kennedy, Hughes and Jeff Marquez was the Twins' rumored request for Santana

 

http://nypost.com/2008/01/15/still-playing/

 

I agree that the Yankees did not offer that specific package, just that those were the players rumored to be in play for a trade to NNY for Santana. If they did offer that, the Twins would have taken it over what the Mets offered.

 

I'm pretty sure they offered a specific three person package - Jackson, Hughes, Marquez - and then pulled it after three days when the Twins didn't take it. This was in early December.

I'm pretty sure they offered a specific three person package - Jackson, Hughes, Marquez - and then pulled it after three days when the Twins didn't take it. This was in early December

 

The Yankees offered Hughes and Cabrera plus a prospect - Twins wanted Austin Jackson to be the third:

http://www.si.com/mlb/2007/12/02/santana-talks

 

It goes back to another thread earlier this year on TD about the Torii Hunter deal with LAA - if the Twins still had a CF, (Span was not ready yet) maybe Cabrera and Hughes would have been Twins a long time ago?

 

The Twins were trying to get Austin Jackson from NYY, Ellsbury from BOS, maybe Kemp from LAA, and ended up with Gomez. 

I had that same thought. Funny old game this baseball. They should go after Kennedy too and complete the troika.

 

Would be nice to have Ian Kennedy.