Six years after the Yankees refused to include him in a package for Johan Santana, Phil Hughes is headed to Minnesota.
The Twins are expected to announce the signing of the free-agent right hander to a three-year, $24 million deal this week, the Star-Tribune reported Saturday night, citing a source with knowledge of the negotiations.
The former Yankee is coming off a dreadful season, one in which he went 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA. Hughes, who allowed 170 hits in 145 innings pitched, was particularly ineffective in Yankee Stadium, notching a 1-10 mark and 6.32 ERA.
This news comes three days after the team reportedly agree to a four-year, $49 million deal with right-hander Ricky Nolasco pending a physical, the largest deal the Twins have ever given an outside free agent. Hughes would be second on the list.
In 2007, when Hughes was just 21 years of age and considered one of baseball’s elite pitching prospects, the Yankees wouldn’t include Hughes in a package for Santana. The Twins ultimately dealt Santana to the Mets in exchange for four prospects, including Carlos Gomez, a 2013 All-Star for the Brewers.