Turning down pitching 1 more out for $500,000

[Homerboy]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11589004/phil-hughes-minnesota-twins-turns-chance-500000-bonus


DETROIT -- Minnesota Twins right-hander Phil Hughes turned down a chance to pitch again this weekend, even though one more out would have earned him a $500,000 bonus.

Hughes' half-million-dollar bonus kicks in if he reaches 210 innings this year, but he is set to finish with 209 2/3 after a rain delay forced him out of his final scheduled start Wednesday.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said Thursday the Twins were prepared to let Hughes pitch again before the end of the season.

"I just didn't think it was right," Hughes said before the team's 4-2 loss to Detroit. "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 in his first season with Minnesota, which signed him to a three-year deal in the offseason. He spent seven seasons with the New York Yankees before that.

Hughes has already triggered a pair of $250,000 bonuses for reaching 180 and 195 innings this season, on top of 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."

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said he was impressed by 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."

Hughes has 186 strikeouts and only 16 walks this season. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 11.63 will be a major league record, breaking the mark of 11.00 set by Bret Saberhagen of the New York Mets in 1994.

If Hughes were to pitch again and walk one more hitter without a strikeout, he would fall short of that record.

 

[minendo]

His logic makes sense.

 

[andylawcc]

:Thumbsup;

now I don't know anything about baseball, i assume the regular season is already over, how can he pitch another game?

 

[KeithTalent]

:Thumbsup;

now I don't know anything about baseball, i assume the regular season is already over, how can he pitch another game?

Bullpen yo. They could bring him in as a reliever for an inning or two if they/he wanted.

KT

 

[mcurphy]

I'm sure the fact that he has secured the record played a part in his decision.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

He must already have a shload of money. /captainobvious

 

[GagHalfrunt]

He must already have a shload of money. /captainobvious

Base salary this year is $8 million and he earned a $250,000 bonus for 180 innings and another $250,000 bonus for 195 innings, so even without the 210 inning bonus he's at $8.5 mill not counting what he makes off the field. So yeah, missing the extra $500K is not going to make him homeless.

 

[Red Storm]

Base salary this year is $8 million and he earned a $250,000 bonus for 180 innings and another $250,000 bonus for 195 innings, so even without the 210 inning bonus he's at $8.5 mill not counting what he makes off the field. So yeah, missing the extra $500K is not going to make him homeless.

But $500K is still $500K. If I needed to do some inane quick task to make another $100, why the hell not?

 

[sjwaste]

You really don't think the team is going to write him the check for $500k anyway? He's obviously making his decision based on what's best for the team. I'd be shocked if he didn't get the bonus anyway.

It's definitely a character move. Whether you made 50k or 50M this season, it takes some level of financial indifference to walk away from another half a million. The marginal benefit of him getting one more out is basically college for 2 of his kids, or two of someone else's kids if he wants to donate it. I'm sure the Twins will quietly write him a check, or if he's game for it, make it a PR move and let him donate it somewhere.

I'm not criticizing Hughes, either. I'm not sure there are many people in any business that would leave it on the table.

 

[smackababy]

But $500K is still $500K. If I needed to do some inane quick task to make another $100, why the hell not?

If, that "inane quick task" resulted in an injury that devalued you at that position, is it worth the quick cash? From my understanding, he wouldn't be fully rested and it isn't like he isn't going to have to try for that inning. From a business standpoint, I think the risk isn't worth the small reward. Had they been fighting for a playoff spot, or it been in the playoffs, I could understand him wanting to do it, if the team needed him. But, it isn't a detriment to the team for him to opt to not pitch an inning.

 

[moonbogg]

I thought 8 million was kind of low for a good pitcher. Serious, I thought they made like 50 million or something.

 

[ImpulsE69]

It sounds like he was thinking of his health and longevity rather than the quick buck. Kudos.

 

[ElFenix]

Record > money when you've got more than you can spend

 

[sjwaste]

I heard him on the radio yesterday. He said it just wasn't meant to happen and that he wasn't going to push it or take away opportunities from a young team to try for it, and that he didn't want this to be a story when it's Jeter's last weekend. He said he's done alright and that he has two more years to give the team.

He's definitely not some yokel they pulled off the farm two days ago - he was pretty well reasoned in why he didn't want to go out of his way for it. I still think the team will either write him a check or let him do something positive with the money anyway. The Twins not doing that would be the real wasted opportunity.

 

[angminas]

Yeah, the positive PR they'd get from it would be worth more than the money if they do it right.

 

[NutBucket]

I thought 8 million was kind of low for a good pitcher. Serious, I thought they made like 50 million or something.

Considering his results he is definitely being underpaid this year. However, given his career numbers his salary is appropriate.

 

[destrekor]

:Thumbsup;

now I don't know anything about baseball, i assume the regular season is already over, how can he pitch another game?

Regular season isn't quite over, officially.

Many playoff spots have been determined in division rankings, but there are still a few more games left. I think the regular season officially ends on the 30th of September.

Pitchers work on a rotating schedule, and this one isn't scheduled to start. There's a distinction between starters, relief, and closers, and as a starter, it's assumed the only way this pitcher could get another chance to pitch is to start a game he isn't currently scheduled to start. To make start switches takes away from other pitchers, and pitchers also need to be rotated for various reasons other than simply sharing the wealth.

He made a very humble decision to not switch around schedules for his personal reward. I also suspect most pitchers would have made the very same decision, unless there was potential to significantly alter the post-season.

 

[Red Storm]

If, that "inane quick task" resulted in an injury that devalued you at that position, is it worth the quick cash? From my understanding, he wouldn't be fully rested and it isn't like he isn't going to have to try for that inning. From a business standpoint, I think the risk isn't worth the small reward. Had they been fighting for a playoff spot, or it been in the playoffs, I could understand him wanting to do it, if the team needed him. But, it isn't a detriment to the team for him to opt to not pitch an inning.

It's baseball, the likelihood of sustaining a serious injury is minimal compared to say basketball or football. And if they aren't going to the playoffs, then even an injury isn't a big deal.

The fact that they aren't fighting for a playoff spot to me is even more of a reason to go ahead and do it.

If he was making $20+ million a year like a superstar athlete I could understand, but even at $8 million, $500K is not an insignificant amount of money (especially after all the taxes).

I remember watching a Redskins game years back, and the fullback (don't remember his name) needed one more catch to meet some big bonus requirement. So on a third and long the team ran a short pass play to get him that reception. They were already eliminated from playoff contention, so there was no reason to deny the man a chance at some easy money.

Fudging up the pitching rotation at least makes some sense, but again, if they aren't going to playoffs I don't see why it matters.

 

[stlc8tr]

He should have taken them up on the offer but also say that he was donating it all to charity.

That way, they could pick some meaningless situation to put him in so it's not high leverage and you can count on a quick out.

 

[andylawcc]

Regular season isn't quite over, officially.

Many playoff spots have been determined in division rankings, but there are still a few more games left. I think the regular season officially ends on the 30th of September.

Pitchers work on a rotating schedule, and this one isn't scheduled to start. There's a distinction between starters, relief, and closers, and as a starter, it's assumed the only way this pitcher could get another chance to pitch is to start a game he isn't currently scheduled to start. To make start switches takes away from other pitchers, and pitchers also need to be rotated for various reasons other than simply sharing the wealth.

He made a very humble decision to not switch around schedules for his personal reward. I also suspect most pitchers would have made the very same decision, unless there was potential to significantly alter the post-season.

Ah, got it. thanks.

and thanks KeithTalent too

 

[futurefields]

he should take that 500k and donate it to me

#changealife

 

[smackababy]

It's baseball, the likelihood of sustaining a serious injury is minimal compared to say basketball or football. And if they aren't going to the playoffs, then even an injury isn't a big deal.

The fact that they aren't fighting for a playoff spot to me is even more of a reason to go ahead and do it.

If he was making $20+ million a year like a superstar athlete I could understand, but even at $8 million, $500K is not an insignificant amount of money (especially after all the taxes).

how many pitchers have been injured this year? And, Hughes is having a stellar year, for him, at least. He isn't going to risk injury and hope he can return to even close to that form next season, with time left on his contract. Him coming in has little chance of actually accomplishing anything and doesn't help the team win. It is only a risk.

I remember watching a Redskins game years back, and the fullback (don't remember his name) needed one more catch to meet some big bonus requirement. So on a third and long the team ran a short pass play to get him that reception. They were already eliminated from playoff contention, so there was no reason to deny the man a chance at some easy money.

Fudging up the pitching rotation at least makes some sense, but again, if they aren't going to playoffs I don't see why it matters.

The thing is, going underneath and hoping for to get to the first down is actually a good play. Especially, if the defense is back deep, expecting you to put it past the marker. Now, I am not saying that was the necessarily the case, but it at least had it's merits. There are no merits to letting this guy pitch an inning, except that he gets an extra $500k. Phil Hughes has been playing since 2007. I am fairly sure he has money. And if an additional $500k is would be helpful to his situation, there is a good chance it wouldn't matter at that point anyway.

 

[SearchMaster]

I'm not trying to be cynical but I really think if he was one strikeout away from the record instead of one walk from losing it, he'd play. If you had earned more money than you can spend, IMO it'd be worth $500K to have your name in the record books (where the last one stood for 30 years).

Really the pressure of "OMG I CANNOT WALK ANYONE!!!" would probably be enough to walk someone.

 

[Ns1]

His agent is probably pissed

 

[ch33zw1z]

makes sense.