Article: Hughes ends season with record. Without bonus?

[Seth Stohs]

It appears the Phil Hughes 2014 season is complete. He ends the year with 186 strikeouts and just 16 walks. The 11.6 K/BB rate is the best in MLB history.

 

Of course, if he is done, he also finished with 209.2 innings. If the rain had not fallen and he recorded one out in the ninth inning today, he would have received a $500,000 bonus. 16 wins, 16 walks, 16 HR allowed. Pretty incredible season!Phil Hughes was cruising on Wednesday afternoon in the final Target Field game of the season. He had given up just one run to the Arizona Diamondbacks on five hits. He walked none and struck out five. He was at 96 pitches after eight innings of work. With a 2-1 lead, it appeared he would reach the 8.1 innings for the game, or more, and hit the 210 innings mark.

 

And then the rains came. The tarp was put over the infield. An hour and six minutes later the game continued. Jared Burton came out for the 9th inning to record the save and give Hughes his 16th win of the year.

 

One out short of a $500,000 bonus. Hughes and Ron Gardenhire both insisted following the game that he is done. He will not pitch out of the bullpen in Detroit on Saturday or Sunday to reach the milestone.

 

First, it is important to point out that the front office, coaching staff and Hughes himself were fully aware of how many outs he needed to get the bonus. All sides wanted him to reach 8.1 innings.

 

Second, the Twins are absolutely not obligated in any way to give him the bonus because he did not reach 210 innings on the season. It's easy to say that "an act of God" took away his opportunity for that bonus. And that certainly tugs at the heart- strings. But he could have recorded one more out any other time during the season too.

 

Third, if the Twins don't give him the bonus, the organization will again be called cheap, though that really has nothing to do with this.

 

The Twins could do a few things:

 

First, they could let him pitch an inning on Saturday or Sunday out of the bullpen. It would be a little shy of his regular rest, but it would be on what would be his normal bullpen day. Of course, they aren't bullpen days because (if this isn't an option) Phil Hughes may not throw a baseball for the next two or three months.

 

The Twins could just give him the bonus, though it sets a precedent that I'm sure Major League Baseball would not appreciate. The bonus was for 210 innings. He did not reach 210 innings. What if he had ended at 209 innings rather than 209.2 innings? (Side note - I'm not certain this is even something that they can do according to the collective bargaining agreement.)

 

Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press made an interesting observation on Twitter. The Twins could donate $500,000 to the Phil Hughes Foundation.

 

Here's another interesting idea... Could the Twins work on extending Phil Hughes beyond the current three year deal that is through the 2016 season? Well, they could try, but at just 28 years old, Hughes could still become a free agent at 30, and if he pitches well the next two years, he would be in line for a four or five year deal and a lot of money. Would Hughes be willing to extend his current contract two years?

 

Would the Twins have any interest in extending him beyond that when they have him under contract for two more years? The organization has certainly had its ups and downs when handing out long-term deals.

 

All of this is fun to talk about. It's also interesting to talk about because Phil Hughes just put up one of the more impressive starting pitching seasons in recent years, certainly back to Johan Santana circa 2008. In an organization that has struggled so much to find competent starting pitching, they struck gold with Hughes in 2014.

 

In another 90-loss season, maybe we should just enjoy that. At least for now.

 

QUICK UPDATE - Mike Berardino posted the following on Twitter after the game:

Industry source says it's "up to the individual team" whether to pay out an unearned bonus in #MLB. @Twins "have no obligation."

 

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[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I like the foundation idea. Also if a game this weekend goes into the 11th or 12th inning, why not. I don't think the Twins will be called cheap if he finished 1/3 inning short, as I remember Hughes voluntarily removing himself from several games this summer when he could have pitched further.

[Thrylos]

The foundation idea maybe makes sense.  Giving him the bonus anyways it does not.  Maybe they should give Swarzak the bonus on the games started next, he is pretty close. (Not that close, but I think that the point is made; "close" is up to interpretation...)

[Squirrel]

I, too, think the Foundation idea is a good one.

 

As for extending him, I'd wait until next year and see what he does, and who is where in the line of prospects.

[tobi0040]

I think it would be a nice gesture. But I would be okay with the donation

 

I would be okay adding 2 and 26 to his deal. The crazy thing is I think hw would do it

[nowheresville]

He missed the bonus by 0.15%. Either you let him throw out of the bullpen, or you just pay him the money. The Twins are already known as a notoriously cheap organization, between that and the just dismal team they've fielded for 4 straight years, they are going to struggle as it is to get any Free Agents to agree to come here. A half million is a very small price to pay to make yourself a more attractive destination, and at the very least, make it a little easier to get Hughes to stick around again when his contract is up. 

 

Of course, that makes the assumption that the Twins have any desire to spend any money or even make an effort to improve the teams performance... 

[DaveW]

Sign Hughes to a 5 year 70 mil deal this offseason. Basically a 3 year 48 mil extension to his current deal.

 

That is how you repay him correctly.

[stringer bell]

No to just giving him the money. Yes, he had a fine season and set a record for K/BB ratio. He already got a bonus for more than 200 innings. It is unfortunate that rain took the opportunity for him to earn his next bonus.

 

If the Twins would like to contribute to a Hughes charity, go for it. If they make a gentleman's agreement to tack on $500K to any contract extension, that is fine. The risk of having him throw an inning of relief is that he might walk a batter and of course there is some risk of injury.

 

I continue to hope for a rainout on Sunday so that Hughes can get that last start and beat the Tigers in a significant game.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Just want to make this point here, because it should factor into how this narrative is viewed, and I feel like it is being obscured/ignored: These past few weeks the Twins paid Hughes 2 bonuses, each in the amount of $250,000, for reaching other inning plateaus. So he did earn $500,000 in inning bonuses this season. So I wouldn't say that his season ends without a bonus -- it just ends without this third bonus.

[LaBombo]

If MLB

 

I think it would be a nice gesture. But I would be okay with the donation

I would be okay adding 2 and 26 to his deal. The crazy thing is I think hw would do it

Unfortunately for the Twins, Scherzer and Lester are hitting free agency at 30 this fall, the same age Hughes will be when his current deal expires.  They're both more established as top starters, but for perspective on just what an incredible year Hughes had, his WAR prior to his tremendous start today was just a tenth lower than Lester's and two tenths higher than Scherzer.  And both those guys are probably going to get significantly north of a tenth of a billion dollars.

 

Don't know much about Hughes' personality, but it seems to me it would be unusual for an athlete in general to take 25 or 30 million for two years when close to 100 (including an inflation adjustment) for five after two more very good (but not even necessarily as great as this year) seasons seems at least possible.

 

Would love to see him remain a Twin and be a veteran anchor in a rotation something like Meyer, Stewart, Berrios and May or Gibson.  But it will probably take at least what Dave suggested, if not more.  After the disastrous season Nolasco and Mauer had, and the organization's general avoidance of high-dollar long term contracts for pitchers past age 30, it seems unlikely.

[Dman]

I guess I could see it going both ways. I prefer to think when you are that close you have essentially met the spirit of the agreement. If his pitching stunk and he just missed I could see some reservation but he pitched well and I think he deserves the money. I think in the end it pays to reward him even though he is one out short.

 

Sticking to the letter of the law works but if you alienate the player what have you gained. Better for both sides to feel good about it in my opinion. The Twins got what they wanted out of Hughes this year so just pay the man. It is the right thing to do.

[Kwak]

My guess is that Sunday's game won't impact the post-season and Hughes can make a relief appearance.  In fact the Twins might use the "emsemble approach" for the whole game if it isn't "meaningful".

[DocBauer]

My initial reaction is to just pay the bonus. After some thought, that sets a dangerous precedent. Where do you draw the line next time? I also like the idea of a charitable donation very much. My only problem with the situation is that Hughes didn't get the opportunity for that magical last out due to the rain. Maybe he gets one out, maybe he gets the complete game, maybe he gets hammered by the first two hitters and gets pulled. Even then, the opportunity would have been made available to him. I dont think it would be such a bad idea, might even shine a qualitylight on the organization, to give him one more inning, or one more batter in the final games so everyone can claim he earned it on the field.

[LaBombo]

My guess is that Sunday's game won't impact the post-season and Hughes can make a relief appearance.  In fact the Twins might use the "emsemble approach" for the whole game if it isn't "meaningful".

Gardenhire has said he will not do so, and while I don't want to see Hughes lose a half million dollars because of rain, it's hard for me to disagree.  Or at least if Hughes doesn't get the bonus, I will blame the front office and ownership much more than Gardy.

 

As some have suggested, a donation to the Phil Hughes Foundation might be a compromise between the franchise shrugging its collective shoulders by doing nothing, or paying him the bonus one out short of the innings threshold and incurring the supposed wrath of other owners and the league FO by doing what a ton of apathetic fans would see as either doing the right thing, or at least doing something nice.  How many teams in MLB are more in need of good PR at the moment?

[Kwak]

Gardenhire has said he will not do so, and while I don't want to see Hughes lose a half million dollars because of rain, it's hard for me to disagree.  Or at least if Hughes doesn't get the bonus, I will blame the front office and ownership much more than Gardy.

 

As some have suggested, a donation to the Phil Hughes Foundation might be a compromise between the franchise shrugging its collective shoulders by doing nothing, or paying him the bonus one out short of the innings threshold and incurring the supposed wrath of other owners and the league FO by doing what a ton of apathetic fans would see as either doing the right thing, or at least doing something nice.  How many teams in MLB are more in need of good PR at the moment?

It seems to run counter to being "a player's manager" and not allowing a valued player the easy opportunity to earn $500K.

[LaBombo]

My initial reaction is to just pay the bonus. After some thought, that sets a dangerous precedent. Where do you draw the line next time?

Your point is valid.  But if the slope is made slippery by rain that deprives the Twins' record-setting best player from a big payday because he was lights-out again but got 629 outs instead of 630, then my reaction is to go reverse Bull Durham on the situation.  Turn off the sprinklers, run hard, and slide head first.

 

In other words, What Would Punto Do?

Edited September 25, 2014 by LaBombo

[LaBombo]

It seems to run counter to being "a player's manager" and not allowing a valued player the easy opportunity to earn $500K.

Agreed, to an extent.  But in my book that's just another reason why the franchise is in disarray.

 

This was a rain delay.  It wasn't a shocking decision by Gardy to bring in a struggling closer substitute to sit an ace pitcher who gave up a leadoff single with a double digit pitch count three outs away from a CG1ER and one out from a massive payday for said ace.

 

This was a franchise well aware (one would hope) that Hughes needed 8.1 outs to get his bonus, rooting for him to reach it in such spectacular fashion (one would hope), that said threshold was in danger due to weather despite his brilliant game.

 

The fact that Gardenhire already shot down the notion of a relief appearance for Hughes tells me one of three things about the Twins.

 

1) Front office weighed all the variables, decided there was no advantage to doing something with the bonus situation to recognize or, better yet, capitalize on Hughesie's incredibly tough break, and quashed the notion of Phil reaching his bonus or receiving it anyway, communicating that decision to Gardy.

 

2) In a brief conversation with the FO before the post-game, Gardenhire autonomously rejected the notion of using a starting pitcher as a relief pitcher with three or four days of advance notice despite using position players (as most managers end up doing) to finish up blowouts.  And he gets the last say because he has recorded one of the worst four-year won/loss records in MLB managerial history.

 

3) Nobody knows what the flunk they're doing.

 

There are other variations, but basically if the Twins can't either benefit from or at least diffuse today, they've got bigger problems than the seasons of Mauer, Nolasco, Sano, Buxton, May, and the Twins in general combined.

Edited September 25, 2014 by LaBombo

[brvama]

It is unfortunate that the rain came. However, how would we view the situation if he had this game in May and he finished the game today with a complete game still being a 1/3 inning short. Would we still be so giving of a half million dollars? if that is the case, you create an environment and precedent for challenges of every contract bonus fulfillment. A contract is a contract and one needs to live by it. Even a donation becomes suspect and challengable on future player contracts. One must live by the rules as are set and agreed to both parties.

[Pius Jefferson]

In the long run or even a weeks run this won't mean jack to the people who are mad with the organizatio. If the Twins decide to give him an inning and the bonus than great if they don't than so be it. If you look at his complete results there's enough missed chances that the rain out shouldn't have made a difference. 

[sandbun]

So all the stories today are not about how Hughes had a historic season, they're about how he just missed a bonus. All anyone talking about the game tomorrow is going to mention is how Hughes got hosed. Doesn't matter if it's unfair or not, it's the truth. It's in all the headlines. Doesn't matter that you and I can point to this game or that game that he could've gone an extra inning. Doesn't matter that strictly speaking he didn't earn the bonus. Doesn't matter that he made a ton of money anyhow. The Twins, a team that is constantly ripped on by its FANS for being cheap, is allowing a mere $500,000 to keep them from getting good press. What is the sense in that? For money that is basically a rounding error and that they were extremely close to having to pay anyhow, for an amount that is nothing more than what they might spend to give a guy a look for a couple weeks, they are overshadowing one of the few bright spots of the season. But don't worry - they "get it". Given a perfectly good chance to undercut one of the negative perceptions about the team, they decide to be sticklers. Idiotic.

 

Find a way to fix this. I don't care if they cut him a check, or they donate it to his charity, or whatever else. But it's 500,000 freaking dollars, which is a lot to me, and probably you too, but basically nothing to them. This story should already been anticipated as a posibility before the game and already been handled and killed. Find a way to fix it.

[twinstalker]

I would point out that Hughes seems to be one of those every-other-year players.  While a number of those careers are of course due to random variation, it's easy to conceive that some are not; that they are the product of a negative autocorrelation.  Perhaps he "bears down" after a bad season and relaxes after a good one.

 

That's a possibility to consider, but otoh his FIP has been very consistent over the years, and it's down nearly two points this year.  Just saying: he's a pitcher, and one year does not mean he's a god going forward.  The best course of action is NOT to extend Hughes.  It is to figure out good deals when the time comes, like they did with Hughes, and then figure out the next good deal with another pitcher when the time comes.  Phil Hughes will never be a good deal again.  Be happy with the three years.  

 

As for the bonus.  If the Twins really wanted him to have a shot at it, they wouldn't have pulled him after 7 innings and 90 pitches vs Cleveland on Friday.  Instead they guaranteed he'd have to pitch into the 9th for the first time all year in his last game, if he were going to achieve it.  Sure, it's easy to act as if you wanted him to earn the bonus, and I have no doubt that Gardenhire would have given him the 9th, but the Twins protected themselves pretty well.  It's like they said "well, we'll give him the chance if he proves (again) that he deserves it, but odds are very much in our favor."

[pierre75275]

I think they should give Hughes the option to pitch an inning out of the bullpen and make it a public thing. If he doesnt want to then thats fine but let him say so so the Twins dont take another PR hit. Otherwise donate the funds to his Foundation.

[stringer bell]

It sounded to me like Hughes and Gardenhire pretty much wrote it off.  I also keep going back to his BB/K record.  If he came in for a relief appearance and walked a guy is that worth $500,000 to a guy who has enough money to live comfortably the rest of his life? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

What if he was 2 outs short instead of 1?

 

What if the rain delay and early exit occurred in May instead of September?

 

He didn't reach the innings threshold under very normal, perfectly acceptable usage patterns/conditions.  The bonus shouldn't be paid.

Edited September 25, 2014 by spycake

[Mike Sixel]

I have also changed my mind from yesterday. I would NOT give him the bonus he did not earn, and I would NOT have him pitch to get one more out. 

 

I would donate $500K to the charities of his choice, though.

[Monkeypaws]

If I was a Twins teammate, I would lobby:

 

a. Gardy, to let Hughes mop up at the end of an upcoming game for the bonus.

 

b. Hughes, to pay for a team dinner if it happened.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

$500,000 is almost the salary Kyle Gibson had for the whole season.  

 

Other guys that made 500,000 or a little more this year - Josmil Pinto, Colabello, Stephen Pryor, Aaron Hicks, Eduardo Escobar, Thielbar, Parmelee, Milone, Arcia, Fien, Brian Dozier.

 

I think it's probably a good thing that Hughes doesn't make a big deal out of it. He shows leadership / team unity by not vocally calling to get the bonus. On the other hand, some of the guys on that list could be in line for significant future paydays that would like include performance bonuses, I bet they'd want the Twins to set the precedent that bonuses can be earned for performing up to the threshhold as well as beyond it.

 

I agree that giving Hughes the bonus makes the Twins more attractive to possible free agents. Suzuki had those "games played" bonuses this year, Gardy has done everything he can to help Suzuki get there (in addition to Suzuki playing above expectations).

[Kwak]

I disagree with most of you. Hughes should go "all Kyle Lohse" on Gardenhire's office door and demand to pitch this weekend.  Hughes simply shrugging-off the $500K bonus indicates his attitude.  He requested (demanded?) this incentive be included in his contract and now an attitude of "I don't care"?  What else doesn't Hughes "care about"?

 

TWINSTALKER mentioned pulling Hughes (Friday vs Cleveland) after 7 innings and 90 pitches. Why is this arbitrary "pitch-count law" all that important?  How many other games did this happen? Later in the same Cleveland series Corey Kluber was allowed to throw 120 pitches in order to complete 7 innings!  Yet another indication of the flaws in "The Twins Way".

[nicksaviking]

It kind of speaks to how cautious and quick to give the game over to the bullpen Gardenhire and company are.  Hughes likely had the best season a pitcher has had around here since Johan Santana and he couldn't even get to 210 innings.

[tobi0040]

I have also changed my mind from yesterday. I would NOT give him the bonus he did not earn, and I would NOT have him pitch to get one more out. 

 

I would donate $500K to the charities of his choice, though.

 

I kind of changed my opinion a tad too, but in the other direction.  I thought it would be a nice gusture but the charity would be okay.  I think they should pay the guy.  The intent of putting that clause into the contract was to reward him for staying healthy and pitching effective enough throughout the course of the season that he gets to 210 innings.  Given 34 starts, that is not missing a start and averaging 6.1 innings per start.  By all accounts, he has exceeded what we were hoping and he had a great year.  Not only did he give us innings, but he gave us effective innings.

 

I think the fact that he is not causing a big deal about it makes me want to give him the bonus even more.  That is called class and setting an example.  If he was making a big deal of it many would call him selfish.