When the free-agent meat market opened, Phil Hughes was a pitcher the Mets were interested in.
Now, a few days shy of a month into the process, the Mets likely will pass on the former Yankees starter who, despite a 4-14 record and 5.19 ERA this past season, is in line for a multi-year deal.
“Two years at $15 million isn’t out of the question considering the shortage of starters,” said a scout from a team not in on Hughes.
The Dodgers gave 33-year-old Dan Haren a one-year deal for $10 million following a season in which he posted a 10-14 record and 4.67 ERA for the Nationals and earned $13 million.
The Angels — who play a bicycle ride away from where Hughes grew up in Orange County, Calif. — Twins, Mariners and Royals have interest in the 27-year-old right-hander, who made $7.15 million this past season. The Braves were interested in Hughes at last year’s trade deadline, but believed the Yankees’ asking price was too steep.
The Mets were willing to talk about a one-year deal with Hughes, but nothing more than that despite having just three starters penciled into their 2014 rotation: Jon Niese, Zack Wheeler and Dillon Gee.
Apparently not interested in a one-year deal to show he can bounce back from the 2013 nightmare, Hughes is looking for a multi-year deal and likely will land it.
“Look where the market is for starting pitchers,” a talent evaluator said. “He is 27 and has never had shoulder or elbow surgery. If I was him, I wouldn’t want a one-year deal. Two years ago, he won 16 games.”
Having his first walk-year experience go sour, Hughes likely doesn’t want to do it two seasons in a row. And the way 2013 turned out, who can blame him?
Twins GM Terry Ryan likes contract control and might come up with a creative multi-year deal for Hughes. The Royals dropped four years and $32 million on lefty Jason Vargas and might not have the money for Hughes, who is viewed as a No. 4 starter by many clubs.