Another day, another dollar may be true for some, but not Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes. Hughes decided not to pitch again this weekend, despite a sizeable cash incentive.
The right-hander would trigger a $500 thousand bonus clause in his contract if he were to reach 210 innings this season. After a rain delay forced him out of his final scheduled start Wednesday, Hughes will finish the season with 209 2/3 innings.
Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire told media Thursday that the Twins would allow Hughes to pitch again before the end of the season, if he wanted to.
"I just didn't think it was right," Hughes said of his decision not to pitch. "If I were fighting for a playoff spot, I'd 100 percent be available. But given the circumstances, I don't think it's the right thing to do."
Hughes is 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA this season, his first with the Twins. Hughes signed a three-year deal with Minnesota this offseason, after seven seasons with the New York Yankees. Hughes, a fly ball pitcher, was never a perfect fit for the short porches of Yankee stadium. However, it seems he's found his groove in the roomier Target Field. Hughes' 186 strikeouts against only 16 walks this season rounds out to an 11.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a major league record.
The money may not be weighing too heavily on Hughes' mind, as he has already reached a pair of $250,000 bonuses for reaching 180 and 195 innings, in addition to his $8 million salary.
"I owe too much to this organization for the next two years to risk getting hurt for an incentive," Hughes said. "For whatever reason it wasn't meant to be. There's a lot bigger problems out there. I'm proud of my season."
Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan said that he was impressed with Hughes' decision.
"He decided after a little thought, he just wasn't going to do it," Ryan said, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "So I respect that. It is a decision that would be difficult to make if you're a player."
The Twins are currently last in the AL Central with a 68-91 record.