Article: Twins To Sign Phil Hughes

[TKGuy]

According to LEN, 3 years $24 million

 

Also said working on bringing AJ back into the mix

[Tibs]

I guess Terry Ryan isn't messing around this off season.

[TKGuy]

What the heck is Terry going to do at the Winter Meetings?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/233955521.html

I guess Nick's assertion of aggressiveness was spot on. I'm thrilled to see this!

[Marta Shearing]

Pelfrey's gonna regret not taking that deal. Its probably off the table now.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

What the heck is Terry going to do at the Winter Meetings?

Hopefully sign more top-end free agents and make some good trades

[h2oface]

A dreaded "innings eater" (that has trouble getting innings in before he is pulled) that pitched horribly the second half of last season, and gives up tons of home runs. Worse than league average. Don't we already have about 5 or 6 of those already?

[Oxtung]

I'm interested to know what people's expectations are for Mr. Hughes. Do people think he's going to average a 3.50 ERA? 4.00? 4.50? How many innings do people think he'll put up per year? Many people have talked about his "upside" and I'm curious to know what that means to people.

[Old Twins Cap]

Yankee Stadium is a jet-stream into right field and right center, and Hughes has given up his share of cheapies out that way. Still, for a guy with good velocity and a decent curve, he gives up hits and walks people at the worst times. NY media market is tough and maybe he rediscovers himself in the pastures of the Midwest. Worst case, he can work in the bullpen and give a max effort for 1 inning, becoming a set-up man.

 

Still a lot of dough, but last year Ryan let the market develop and by the time it did, all we could get is Coreia. This year, Ryan made the market, and whether you like the signings or not, it will be tough to argue that the Twins overpaid.

[TKGuy]

These acquisitions are legitimate ML starters instead of running AAAA guys out there. An ERA of around 4 would be a legitimate upgrade.

[Kwak]

I never thought that much of Hughes. However, the Twins can't be overly choosy until this team gets retooled into a winner. The alternatives (those we watched the last two years) are unacceptable and new talent must be acquired. I would rather see Pinto as the #1 C instead of a free agent. Whatever he does at AAA is meaningless anyway--see Parmelee.

[crapforks]

I thought Kazmir's handedness and (probably) one year commitment would have been a better move, but its hard not to be excited. I think it's important for the Twins to shore up the outfield defense now. They have no pitcher who can really claim to be a 'ground-ball-type' pitcher trotting out there. Nobody want Colabello/Parmalee/Willingham/Arcia combined with a decent decent CF shagging all the fly balls

[John Bonnes]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php/2509-Twins-to-sign-Phil-Hughes

[gunnarthor]

I'm interested to know what people's expectations are for Mr. Hughes. Do people think he's going to average a 3.50 ERA? 4.00? 4.50? How many innings do people think he'll put up per year? Many people have talked about his "upside" and I'm curious to know what that means to people.

 

Something similar to but a bit better than his 2012 season - ERA+ 105 or so, 190+ innings or so, roughly 2+ WAR. I think he'll do well here.

[EephusKnuckler]

Good news. Surprised by the three years though...thought for sure it would be a 1 or 2 year deal.

 

Safe to assume that TR is done signing starters.

[NoCryingInBaseball]

The Hughes signing, along with the Nolasco, makes Ryan look mighty aggressive. Guess all that needed to happen was for Ryan to win Reusse's Turkey of the Year award.

[by jiminy]

I love it! At that price, he'd be worth it even if he ended up a reliever!

 

Sure he could flame out, but given his history and his unfriendly home park, he's also got some serious upside -- and for a total investment less than one third the cost of Nolasco. This is the type of gamble they need to take, and it doesn't even use up their remaining budget. If he finally reaches anything near his potential, this is a steal. If he never pitches below a 5 ERA, it won't kill them. Plus his worst case scenario isn't even that bad, as he has experience as an effective reliever. I'm thrilled. Maybe that's just knee-jerk amazement that they signed two pitchers in three days, but hey, how often have we ever ever heard that sentence?

[jorgenswest]

The extra year may be what brought him to the Twins. He is young enough that the third year won't matter. In fact 8 million in 2016 won't buy 1 WAR.

[Halsey Hall]

Pelfrey's still got a chance and wouldn't surprise me. LOL, I can't help but wonder what a bunch of our other pitchers are thinking right now. A few probably hoping to be traded.

[halfchest]

Dang, I'm not in love with either Nolasco or Hughes but I like the signings. Until other pitchers sign we really won't be able to fully judge these signings. If they could have gotten Garza and Kazmir for similar money I don't know, I'll be a bit disappointed but not devastated. We've talked ad nauseum about Hughes potential in Target Field and just a change of scenery in general. These guys together take up only 20 million per year for the next 3. Assuming we're done with starters from this point and will likely only sign short term deals on any position players I like how this sets us up for future FA spending if needed.

 

Next year a lot of big names could be hitting FA including Scherzer, Homer Bailey, Kershaw (gonna re up though, Shields, Masterson, and Lester. Not to mention some guys with options like Gallardo, Morrow, Brett Anderson, Cueto, and Bllingsley all having options next year. Could be some nice names to spend on next year. If the twins show enough improvement and some of the young prospects start to pan out, Minnesota could suddenly become a nice destination.

[Brandon]

2 pitchers for 20 million per season. That brings us close to 79 million for next season. They still plan on signing a Catcher and it looks like they are getting closer to AJ Pierzinski signing. I am guessing he'll get a 1 or 2 year deal in the 7-9 million per season range. There is still talk of signing Pelfry and if all of that happens I may have to fly out to Minnesota and buy some tickets to games this year to financially support this type of spending behavior. (Yes I know my 100 in ticket sales plus concessions won't pay the contracts but its more than I spent the last 10 years In Minnesota).

[PseudoSABR]

Let's hope that the twins penchant for low risk moves pays off here. Whether or not these signings work out, it was hard to imagine the Twins spending 75 mil this offseason.

[Twins Twerp]

3 years worth it? IDK. People who wanted JR. to gamble must be happy. Thats about 20 mil a year for 2 pitchers. Salty for 10 a year would be pretty awesome and I would bet make the total still under 100 (96 off the top of my head).

[darin617]

Dang, I'm not in love with either Nolasco or Hughes but I like the signings. Until other pitchers sign we really won't be able to fully judge these signings. If they could have gotten Garza and Kazmir for similar money I don't know, I'll be a bit disappointed but not devastated. We've talked ad nauseum about Hughes potential in Target Field and just a change of scenery in general. These guys together take up only 20 million per year for the next 3. Assuming we're done with starters from this point and will likely only sign short term deals on any position players I like how this sets us up for future FA spending if needed.

 

Next year a lot of big names could be hitting FA including Scherzer, Homer Bailey, Kershaw (gonna re up though, Shields, Masterson, and Lester. Not to mention some guys with options like Gallardo, Morrow, Brett Anderson, Cueto, and Bllingsley all having options next year. Could be some nice names to spend on next year. If the twins show enough improvement and some of the young prospects start to pan out, Minnesota could suddenly become a nice destination.

 

Correia will be off the books after 2014 so they "could" add someone to replace him.

1. Nolasco

2. Hughes

3. * Sign Scott Kasmir *

4. Correia

5. Gibson

That could actually be a nice rotation. Flush all your AAAA scrubs away. In 2 years they can all play for the St Paul Saints.

[DuluthFan]

Good signing. It may not be what everybody was hoping for, but it definitely is an upgrade over what the Twins had last year. Which is what was needed. I don't expect a jump from worst rotation to best in one year. This could be a good interim step towards that goal.

I would like to see one more starter signed, preferably to a two year deal. It would then set up the rotation to be able to be "refreshed" each year with an opening to be filled either through free agency or from the minors. The young players will then have the time to develop at their own pace at Rochester without being rushed to the major league level. The last open spot should be left for last year's starters to EARN in spring training. Let them push each other and the vets for a spot in the rotation. If the young pitchers push a vet out of the rotation, so be it.

[johnnydakota]

ok Now that the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation are filled who do we run out 1-3?

Just kidding (kinda) Kudos Terry you had a plan and went for it...good for you .

The big question now is who comes off the 40 man roster and will you be trying to trade some players?

[DaveW]

Omg! Omg! Omg! Omg! This is a perfect signing!!!!!

[DaveW]

Hughes 3/25>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>arroyo on ANY 2 or 3 year deal.

[Brandon]

I like the signing though I am a believer in Deduno if he is healthy for the 5th starter making the rotation for next season

 

Nolasco

Hughes

Corriea

Dedunno

Gibson and others

 

Though how likely is it that either Deduno or Hughes miss time for injuries? and We can always trade Corriea from a position of strength during the season if Gibson and or Meyer look to be ready. So signing 1 more pitcher is an option except Worely and Diamond are likely to be lost as they are out of options (though Diamond might be able to stay if they nontender Deunsing to save a buck or 2 and pitch in the pen) Also if they sign Pelfry and AJ Pierzinski then our payroll will likely be just over 90 million next year. We need to go buy some tickets and support that.

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

This is awesome. We still dont have a number one pitcher but this definitely makes our rotation a little more respectable. Just what I wanted 3 years for 24 million is a pretty nice contract especially if he flames out. Way better than having Arroyo for 3 years 30 million. I honestly dont think Arroyo gets even close to the contract he wants anymore and maybe, just maybe the Twins could get him at a better rate.