Coming off a strong 2014 MLB season, Minnesota Twins starter Phil Hughes reportedly agreed to a contract extension with the club on Monday.
MLBRosterMoves provided the latest on the agreement between the two sides:
Hughes, 28, emerged last season as a true ace despite another down season for the franchise. Finishing 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA and a career-high 186 strikeouts, Hughes completely turned things around from his horrid 2013 campaign with the New York Yankees.
Prior to the confirmation of the deal, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reported an agreement was in place.
Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports offered his take on the deal for Hughes:
Last season, Hughes had a chance to cash in on a $500,000 bonus if he recorded one more out. However, he decided to look toward helping in the future with the franchise, as he told ESPN.com.
“I just didn’t think it was right,” Hughes said. “I owe too much to this organization for the next two years to risk getting hurt for an incentive. For whatever reason it wasn’t meant to be. There’s a lot bigger problems out there. I’m proud of my season.”
In the end, Hughes still comes out with a big payday thanks to last year’s performance.
Under team control until 2019, the Twins now have the pieces to make the AL Central one of the most competitive in the MLB. Already acquiring Torii Hunter and getting a healthy Joe Mauer back, 2015 should be an intriguing season in Minnesota.
In an increasingly competitive division, the Twins still have a tough road ahead. Bringing back Hughes gives Minnesota a true ace, but it is still in a tough division to make a playoff run.
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