He doesn't have a legal nor moral obligation to give up the money. But he should retire for his own good if the prognosis is that the next 2 1/2 years are likely to be an endless cycle of surgeries and rehab with little chance of ever being an effective ballplayer again. He should go for the buyout first if the team will negotiate. But at some point there is a diminishing return to more money when it's at the expense of health and future ability to enjoy the fruits of that hard work. Why push it to the absolute limit? Take the money you've made and move onto the next phase of your life. You can always start new ventures or investments to make more money, but you can't rebuild a used-up body (yet).

We've gone from a 10 day DL stint for shoulder stiffness to a necessary retirement because his quality of life is jeopardized. There isn't any denying the Twins have a checkered past when it comes to dealing with injuries, so who really knows what is going on with Hughes. 

 

Yes, he could retire, but the chances of him giving up 26.5 million and not attempting a comeback (if necessary) because this injury is threatening his quality of life are so remote. 

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by KirbyDome89

Are these doom and gloom sentiments regarding Hughes a little premature? Shoulder injuries can be serious, but not all of them.

 

I never wanted Hughes in the rotation to begin with, but this thread reads like an obituary. Is there anything else I'm missing besides the fact that his shoulder is stiff? I hope he's fine, and I also hope he heads to the pen or somewhere other than Minnesota's rotation, but this all sounds so morbid.

 

We've gone from a 10 day DL stint for shoulder stiffness to a necessary retirement because his quality of life is jeopardized. There isn't any denying the Twins have a checkered past when it comes to dealing with injuries, so who really knows what is going on with Hughes. 

 

Yes, he could retire, but the chances of him giving up 26.5 million and not attempting a comeback (if necessary) because this injury is threatening his quality of life are so remote. 

 

You say that now, but I heard amputation is a possibility if he even comes within close proximity of a baseball.

 

Are these doom and gloom sentiments regarding Hughes a little premature? Shoulder injuries can be serious, but not all of them.

 

I never wanted Hughes in the rotation to begin with, but this thread reads like an obituary. Is there anything else I'm missing besides the fact that his shoulder is stiff? I hope he's fine, and I also hope he heads to the pen or somewhere other than Minnesota's rotation, but this all sounds so morbid.

 

It's basically been going on for 2 calendar years (dating to the 2015 season), with no improvement even after surgery and rest.

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by spycake

 

Of course, that isn't how he is being used. Someone posted numbers the other day showing Duffy was being used in high leverage situations, moreso than any Twins reliever, including Kintzler.

 

If they were using him as a true setup man it'd change my opinion, but I don't see that as the case.  He's being used just as often as a long man.

 

I don't love the idea of stretching him back out either, in general I think flipping guys back and forth is a bad idea, but my tune here is different for two reasons:

 

1) Tepesch.

 

2) Tepesch.  (Kidding, Duffey has flipped back and forth from this role before.  Unlike May, he's at least done this before)

 

We've gone from a 10 day DL stint for shoulder stiffness to a necessary retirement because his quality of life is jeopardized. There isn't any denying the Twins have a checkered past when it comes to dealing with injuries, so who really knows what is going on with Hughes. 

 

Yes, he could retire, but the chances of him giving up 26.5 million and not attempting a comeback (if necessary) because this injury is threatening his quality of life are so remote. 

 

You talk like the 10-day DL stint is an isolated incident. This didn't happen in a vacuum, it is most likely a continuation of the condition which has diminished him for a couple of years now and has already required surgery. Considering he's working on becoming a junk baller, it's clear the surgery wasn't enough to restore him to his pre-injury condition. There's a real possibility this is about the best Hughes will ever be going forward.

 

And I'm not saying he should make a decision tomorrow or even next month. If he goes through the rest of the season showing no real improvement with regular DL stints and being hidden away in the bullpen, then I'm sure he'll take a hard look at what he wants the next two years of his life to look like. Not everybody is about getting every last dollar.

Side note: 38k+ clicks on this thread? Who's sitting at home and refreshing every second?

 

Side note: 38k+ clicks on this thread? Who's sitting at home and refreshing every second?

 

Phil?

 

You talk like the 10-day DL stint is an isolated incident. This didn't happen in a vacuum, it is most likely a continuation of the condition which has diminished him for a couple of years now and has already required surgery. Considering he's working on becoming a junk baller, it's clear the surgery wasn't enough to restore him to his pre-injury condition. There's a real possibility this is about the best Hughes will ever be going forward.

 

And I'm not saying he should make a decision tomorrow or even next month. If he goes through the rest of the season showing no real improvement with regular DL stints and being hidden away in the bullpen, then I'm sure he'll take a hard look at what he wants the next two years of his life to look like. Not everybody is about getting every last dollar.

You realize I'm not saying his performance has been good, or that it will be better right?

 

Like I said, he could make that decision, but you're advocating for the most extreme scenario. IMO the chances of that happening are slim to none. 

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by KirbyDome89

 

Are these doom and gloom sentiments regarding Hughes a little premature? Shoulder injuries can be serious, but not all of them.

 

I never wanted Hughes in the rotation to begin with, but this thread reads like an obituary. Is there anything else I'm missing besides the fact that his shoulder is stiff? I hope he's fine, and I also hope he heads to the pen or somewhere other than Minnesota's rotation, but this all sounds so morbid.

 

For me the biggest reason I've nearly given up on Hughes is because he's lost around 3 mph on his fastball since 2014 (average velocity under 90 for the season). Without a good fastball Hughes really struggles to get by with his secondary pitches.

 

Shoulder issues

Uh oh

 

I go back and am still scratching my head that the Twins braintrust never bothered working Fister out.

 

As we speak, a promising and admittedly lucky season is hanging on the precipice of doom.

 

Phil?

 

Spit take funny.

Hughes is a great guy, and I don't feel good about it. Gotta be really frustrating.

 

But, this isn't a negative for the Twins at this point. Hughes was getting absolutely pounded. It can't really get any worse.

 

Really hope Phil can get healthy, and come back and be effective at some point. But, he probably never should've been put back in the rotation in the first place.

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by Darius

Gibson coming up.  

It's basically been going on for 2 calendar years (dating to the 2015 season), with no improvement even after surgery and rest.

Yeah , that's why I never wanted him in the rotation.

 

But he has already shown himself capable of throwing a baseball even if not to particularly great effect. I'm just wondering if there is different news regarding his shoulder other than it being stiff, because that doesn't sound career threatening. If not serious he'll almost certainly be pitching two more years somewhere in some capacity because of his contract, so I'm just curious why so many are talking like this is the end of the road.

Yeah , that's why I never wanted him in the rotation.

 

But he has already shown himself capable of throwing a baseball even if not to particularly great effect. I'm just wondering if there is different news regarding his shoulder other than it being stiff, because that doesn't sound career threatening. If not serious he'll almost certainly be pitching two more years somewhere in some capacity because of his contract, so I'm just curious why so many are talking like this is the end of the road.

Probably wishful thinking.

This news is shocking, but it is that time of year for the twins pitchers to do their annual spin through the DL rotation!

and oooooh boy, we get Gibson back.

 

Gibson coming up.  

Gibson yet again going down.

 

Well, hopefully Mejia and/or Gibson run with this opportunity. The broadcasters noted that the Twins were something like 15-3 when they got a quality start this year, which is a pretty solid winning percentage.

both need to run with their opportunities, unless you want to see Haley or Wilk starting

 

 

 

I think that it is time for Gibson to show that he can step up.

 

 

Reports coming out say biceps tendonitis. Meaning what? Who knows. But could mean some rest and rehab and he will look like his first few games and not the past few. That would help.

 

Depth is looking scary. But today, right now, there isn't a panic and there shouldn't be. Now, if injuries hit, we could be looking at Duffey, maybe Haley and others. But it's not panic time just yet.

 

Reports coming out say biceps tendonitis. Meaning what? Who knows. But could mean some rest and rehab and he will look like his first few games and not the past few. That would help.

Depth is looking scary. But today, right now, there isn't a panic and there shouldn't be. Now, if injuries hit, we could be looking at Duffey, maybe Haley and others. But it's not panic time just yet.

Bicep tendonitis hurts, depending on how bad, if you've ever had it. Rest, stretching, massage, anti-inflammatories usually works for me.

 

Edit: and ice.

Hughes has made $54m in his career. He shouldn't feel obligated to retire but he may feel that's enough money and rehab isn't worth the frustration.

 

We're not talking about a fourth year player here. Phil Hughes is already filthy rich. He may want the rest of that contract and that's his right as a player in MLB. He may also feel that he has enough money and just quit.

$54 million isn't even that much money these days, 50%+ went to taxes, agents etc

 

It would be dumb for him to turn down $26 million left (which would make up over a third of his lifetime earnings and net worth) doubt he wants his agents to lose out of their money owed as well.

Side note: 38k+ clicks on this thread? Who's sitting at home and refreshing every second?

Dave threads always go viral

Side note: 38k+ clicks on this thread? Who's sitting at home and refreshing every second?

My bad - I thought this was the game thread.

 

Dave threads always go viral

Fun fact: This is now the 4th most viewed thread in TwinsDaily Twins forum history.

DaveW Threads make up 4 of the top 5 (With Mike Sixel's Fangraphs thread slotting in the middle in the #3 spot overall)