DFA Hughes

[Mike Sixel]

Hughes is done. That's obvious.

 

Let's discuss the money..... If you cut Phil, and replace him with a minor league player, your costs go up by less than a half million dollars this year....

 

Are people thinking the team's budget is such they can't add less than one million dollars?

 

If this is a playoff team, this year or next, they can't afford a pitcher like Hughes being on the roster.

 

Let's discuss depth.... They have three guys in AAA, Romero, Gonsalves, and Mejia..... Four of you like Slegers. There is plenty of depth. The probably get Santana back this year, and have Pineda for next year. ...

 

There is no good reason to keep him around.

[Rosterman]

One is the DL.

Another is still at AA.

The otherone isn't ready.

Maybe we can use one in relief.

That's just four of 13 million reasons to keep Hughes around for one more starting opportunity. Then one mrer after that. Then we don't need a fifth starter and we MIGHT try him out of the pen. Then let's see if we/he has figured it out for one more start.

Hey, is that a Twins fan who purchased a seat out there in the outfield? Wow. Haven't seen that all month!

 

[Mike Sixel]

Gonsalves was promoted, but I loved your post.

[TheLeviathan]

If you feel, foolishly, obligated to pay him and not end his career just put him on the 60 day DL then.  

 

But there is no upside to having him on the 25 man roster.  At this point we're fielding a unit that is handicapped going into every game with anywhere from 3-5 useless/detrimental players occupying it.

[FormerMinnasotan]

Hughes is done. That's obvious.

 

Let's discuss the money..... If you cut Phil, and replace him with a minor league player, your costs go up by less than a half million dollars this year....

 

Are people thinking the team's budget is such they can't add less than one million dollars?

 

If this is a playoff team, this year or next, they can't afford a pitcher like Hughes being on the roster.

 

Let's discuss depth.... They have three guys in AAA, Romero, Gonsalves, and Mejia..... Four of you like Slegers. There is plenty of depth. The probably get Santana back this year, and have Pineda for next year. ...

 

There is no good reason to keep him around.

Agreed. Mejia is on the DL and even when he comes off the DL I wouldn’t call him up, after all his ERA in Rochester is 6 and hasn’t shown any signs of better control and command. I’d want to take a gamble on Gonsalves even with his lack of AAA experience except...his command isn’t there and is throwing far too many pitches in too few innings for him to be ready.

 

If it was me I’d promote Slegers (who is more polished), or Romero (who has the attitude and stuff) over Hughes. I’d wager both wouldn’t do worse than Hughes with higher upside.

[Vanimal46]

If you feel, foolishly, obligated to pay him and not end his career just put him on the 60 day DL then.

 

But there is no upside to having him on the 25 man roster. At this point we're fielding a unit that is handicapped going into every game with anywhere from 3-5 useless/detrimental players occupying it.

Wouldn't Hughes or MLB file a grievance against the Twins for stashing him on the 60 day DL when he's not injured?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Wouldn't Hughes or MLB file a grievance against the Twins for stashing him on the 60 day DL when he's not injured?

Yeah, that's only an option if the player buys in.

[USAFChief]

Yeah, that's only an option if the player buys in.

And a physician.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hughes is done. That's obvious.

 

Let's discuss the money..... If you cut Phil, and replace him with a minor league player, your costs go up by less than a half million dollars this year....

 

Are people thinking the team's budget is such they can't add less than one million dollars?

 

 

And actually, if we release Hughes and someone else picks him up within the next 2 years, they'd be on the hook for the prorated minimum. Seems unlikely at this point, but desperate teams sometimes turn to desperate measures!

[TheLeviathan]

 

Wouldn't Hughes or MLB file a grievance against the Twins for stashing him on the 60 day DL when he's not injured?

 

You're right, but if sentiment is standing in their way and they can't let it go...find some other recourse.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

And a physician.

Not really. I mean, guys go to the DL for fatigue or soreness or "dead arm" all the time. It's not like any doctor is going to question that, at least not to the point of becoming a whistle-blower and denying the DL claim. And honestly, any pro athlete can probably come up with a legit reason they are less than 100% at any given moment, if they want. Those reasons usually aren't used to justify a DL stint, but nobody but the team or player will object if they are.

[Vanimal46]

You're right, but if sentiment is standing in their way and they can't let it go...find some other recourse.

That set themselves up for failure on that option by saying he's healthy all spring training.

 

Regardless, we all know the solution to this problem. It's very, very easy. Just eat the money and move on. I can't imagine the FO is that stubborn to think they can fix Hughes.

[Mike Sixel]

I liked that last post, because it was brave and well written. Wrong, but well written

[USAFChief]

I don't usually disagree with Sixel, but I saw something in Hughes last night at the game that makes me disagree. I think Hughes is starting to shake the rust off a bit. I thought Molitor was too quick with the hook, and should have forced him to work through it. There was more life on his fastball and movement to his pitches. Phil Hughes just needs to get in better mound shape, build more stamina and pitch more. Let's not forget he had very little pitching activity the last two years. They need to take him longer in games even if he takes his lumps early. Hughes to me looks like he can still get to the bottom, gut it out and actually start pitching better. He needs to pitch more innings to build confidence in his stuff. It's not about the money, I still think he can be successful in this league.

I respect your opinion. Some people like opera, too.

[mickeymental]

sign him to a three-year extension!

[Brock Beauchamp]

I was fine with keeping Hughes during the messy part of the schedule where rain/snow outs and off days were a given.

 

That part of the schedule is now past and Hughes looks like the guy we’ve seen the past two years.

 

Move on.

[big dog]

I agree with the argument to release Hughes.  Time to move on.  If he has success with someone else, well, good for him and I'll be surprised.

[Thrylos]

Hughes is done. That's obvious.

 

Let's discuss the money..... If you cut Phil, and replace him with a minor league player, your costs go up by less than a half million dollars this year....

 

Are people thinking the team's budget is such they can't add less than one million dollars?

 

If this is a playoff team, this year or next, they can't afford a pitcher like Hughes being on the roster.

 

Let's discuss depth.... They have three guys in AAA, Romero, Gonsalves, and Mejia..... Four of you like Slegers. There is plenty of depth. The probably get Santana back this year, and have Pineda for next year. ...

 

There is no good reason to keep him around.

Got to add May to the mix. He will come back before Santana...

 

Hughes needs to go. There is no reason or rhyme to keep him.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Got to add May to the mix. He will come back before Santana...

 

Hughes needs to go. There is no reason or rhyme to keep him.

CBS sports references Berardino but no link. I googled it, no luck, but May sounds encouraging

 

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-trevor-may-game-action-slated-for-later-in-week/

[Dave The Dastardly]

Yeah, for Pete's sakes let's move on. Cut Hughes. But if we're just going to go out and pick up some other team's cast-off to fill Hughes' roster spot... well then we might as well keep Hughes. Might as well stick with the devil we know as long as we have to pay him anyway.

 

If on the other hand our Front Office pitcher whisperers are going to bring up one of our own prospects, somebody with potential that might actually be around for the rest of the season, make the move right now.

 

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Per Lavelle, Hughes will make his scheduled start vs. Toronto.

Just a minor mechanical issue, according to the team, no issues with Hughes!

 

Sorry folks, no matter how much logical sense it makes, they aren't eating $26 million. People don't always make logical decisions regarding that kind of money.

The soonest we will see them move on from him, IMO, will be midseason 2019.

[Vanimal46]

Per Lavelle, Hughes will make his scheduled start vs. Toronto.

Just a minor mechanical issue, according to the team, no issues with Hughes!

 

Sorry folks, no matter how much logical sense it makes, they aren't eating $26 million. People don't always make logical decisions regarding that kind of money.

The soonest we will see them move on from him, IMO, will be midseason 2019.

That's O "minor mechanical issue" for everyone playing Phil Hughes excuse Bingo...

 

In review, we've heard that he's feeling great, to needing more time to 'ramp up', to his arm strength is almost back(!!), to 'minor mechanical issue'

 

Amazing.

[laloesch]

Hughes is done. That's obvious.

Let's discuss the money..... If you cut Phil, and replace him with a minor league player, your costs go up by less than a half million dollars this year....

Are people thinking the team's budget is such they can't add less than one million dollars?

If this is a playoff team, this year or next, they can't afford a pitcher like Hughes being on the roster.

Let's discuss depth.... They have three guys in AAA, Romero, Gonsalves, and Mejia..... Four of you like Slegers. There is plenty of depth. The probably get Santana back this year, and have Pineda for next year. ...

There is no good reason to keep him around.

Well Slegers is up perhaps only in relief but they could use him as a starter.

[jorgenswest]

I think he will eventually be released.

 

However, anytime I advocate for a multi year contract I do so realizing a team with Minnesota’s market will be very reluctant to toss away year’s of that deal. If the player declines suddenly we will be stuck with him.

 

They have 3 good seasons for the 13 years they gave Santana, Hughes and Nolasco. That isn’t a recipe for success.

[Franz]

 

I don't usually disagree with Sixel, but I saw something in Hughes last night at the game that makes me disagree. I think Hughes is starting to shake the rust off a bit. I thought Molitor was too quick with the hook, and should have forced him to work through it. There was more life on his fastball and movement to his pitches. Phil Hughes just needs to get in better mound shape, build more stamina and pitch more. Let's not forget he had very little pitching activity the last two years. They need to take him longer in games even if he takes his lumps early. Hughes to me looks like he can still get to the bottom, gut it out and actually start pitching better. He needs to pitch more innings to build confidence in his stuff. It's not about the money, I still think he can be successful in this league.

This brings up an interesting point. If a starting pitcher doesn't have a reasonable chance to go more than 3+ innings, should he be starting a major league game, regardless of his contract status? Particularly if you think your team is at least a wildcard contender? "Bullpen games" can negatively impact the team for days or even weeks. This is exacerbated for the Twins right now because they don't seem to have a viable long relief option.

 

If the Twins aren't ready to cut bait on Phil Hughes, then he should show that he is capable of pitching 6-7 innings at a stretch while maintaining his "stuff". Otherwise the Twins aren't just throwing away his start, they're throwing away their bullpen construction as well.

 

And we've seen that when it comes down to the second AL wildcard, every game counts.

[Riverbrian]

Having depth means: You don't have to.

 

Not having depth means: You have to.

 

IMO... The deepest part of the Twins roster is starting pitching so they don't have to keep experimenting with 3 inning Hughes starts.  

 

1. Berrios

2. Odorizzi

3. Gibson

4. Lynn

5. Hughes

6. Santana

7. May

8. Romero

9. Gonsalves

10. Slegers

11. Mejia

12. Littrell

13. Thorpe

14. Enns

 

Santana and Trevor May are supposed to back later next month and Kinley has been removed from the Roster. The combinations of these things would allow the Twins to slot Hughes into Kinley's old spot and see if the Mechanical adjustments work under low leverage conditions.

 

After you move Hughes into the abandoned Kinley role... The front office could then call up the top performer off the 40 man for the 5th spot in the rotation for awhile. Romero or Gonsalves for example could make some starts until Santana and May return. At that point, Romero or Gonsalves or whoever could be returned to Rochester with some Major League Innings under their belt.

 

They would gain some personal experience... such as... "major league hitters" are able to do this and I have seen this first hand now so I can spend some time working on it at AAA so I'm ready for my next call. 

 

If they don't have depth... then they have to keep throwing Hughes out there or Logan Morrison or whoever. 

 

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Wouldn't Hughes or MLB file a grievance against the Twins for stashing him on the 60 day DL when he's not injured?

I wouldn't say Hughes was injured, Just admit that Hughes is disabled from throwing satisfactory pitches to major league hitters.

[Mr. Brooks]

The quotes from Molitor and Hughes, in Derek Wetmore's column this morning, seem to suggest that he's going to get a pretty long leash. As I expected.

[Vanimal46]

The quotes from Molitor and Hughes, in Derek Wetmore's column this morning, seem to suggest that he's going to get a pretty long leash. As I expected.

If that's the case, I've lost faith that they believe this is a playoff team.

 

Teams that are serious about contending don't leave broken pitchers in their rotation for an extended period of time.

[MangLitch]

To me, the real curse here is being 1-9 in our last 10 and still being 3.5 games out of first. (hang with me here). 

 

What are the odds that Falvine and Molly are sitting there thinking "we are only 3.5 games out and we need to stick with the vets to turn it around". Which just breeds a mediocre season when we all know Hughes just isn't the same and Lynn is looking like Hughes 2.0.... Luckily he is a 1 year deal at this point.

 

Berrios took the better part of 40 starts to really start to flash? I know we keep beating the "2 years out" horse but I think we had a decently lucky year last year and need to slow down on the title chase this year. Toss the kids in there and let them start the Berrios process. That way in 2020, we may actually be in that mode instead of just starting to let these guys get loose because we decided we wanted to let the vets keep us in mediocrity. 

 

I can watch Romero put up a 6 ERA knowing he has a shot versus someone we hope doesn't lose an arm out there.