Phil Hughes had to get out of New York and enter a small market, which he did by agreeing to a three-year $24 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, according to sources. The deal is pending a physical.Hughes joins Ricky Nolasco as pitchers who signed with the Twins in the past week. Nolasco was signed to a contract on Wednesday.
There may have not been a more scrutinized pitcher in 2013 than Phil Hughes was with the Yankees. Hughes was horrendous, finishing with a 4-14 record and an abysmal 5.19 ERA. Over the past two years, he’s given up 59 home runs.
Once upon a time, Hughes was considered to be the future ace of the Yankees — the next big thing... but that never happened. He showed signs during the 2010 season, where he won a career-high 18 games. Other than that, it’s been a major disappointment.
A move to the Twin Cities will be a true test of whether the 27-year-old has a future in the Major Leagues. Target Field is a pitcher's friendly park, and the Minnesota media in no way resembles the ravaging New York media. This is the perfect situation for Hughes, who now has no excuses not to succeed.
The Twins' first visit to the Bronx in 2014 comes at the end of May. Hughes was apart of the 2009 Yankees Championship team, and you can bet Yankees fans are ready to give Hughes a nice welcome home.
By Lucas Frankel
