The Padres announced that they have designated right-hander Phil Hughes for assignment. He’ll step aside in favor of young starter Jacob Nix, whose contract was selected.
Acquired earlier in the season in a swap that netted the Friars an extra draft choice, Hughes struggled quite a bit during his brief time in San Diego. In 16 appearances, the former starter allowed 14 earned runs on thirty base hits — including seven long balls.
Hughes did manage 24 strikeouts against just five walks in his 20 2/3 innings with the Pads, but he has missed bats less than he has missed barrels when opposing hitters have made contact. On the season as a whole, the 32-year-old is allowing a whopping 54.1% hard-hit rate. Indeed, Statcast even suggests Hughes has been fortunate, charging him with a .454 xwOBA-against that dwarfs the (already-hefty) .404 wOBA figure that batters have actually produced.
Needless to say, a run of recent injuries has taken quite a toll on a pitcher who had reemerged with the Twins after ending his tenure with the Yankees. Under the terms of the agreement that brought Hughes to the Padres, the organization is responsible for $7.25MM of the remaining salary owed to the righty under his extension with the Twins. The Minnesota org is still on the hook for a chunk of the $13.2MM he’s playing for this year and the balance of the same amount for 2019. While the Twins’ obligations are fixed, the Padres can still save some cash (albeit only a pro-rated portion of the league minimum salary) if Hughes ends up pitching for another club.
Nix was also a high-school star in California, but he’s ten years Hughes’s junior. He famously saw a deal with the Astros torn up when they failed to sign 1-1 pick Brady Aiken back in 2014, though he reached a settlement with Houston and ended up back in the draft in the ensuing winter. Nix went to the Padres in the third round.
Now in his third full season as a professional, Nix has taken a step forward in the results department. Though he has been limited to ten starts in the upper minors this year due to injury, his most recent outing was his first at the Triple-A level. Through 58 2/3 innings in 2018, Nix has allowed just 39 base hits and owns a sparkling 1.84 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9.
Does Phil Hughes get traded (again) or released?
Go on Friedman, pick up Hughes, he will go right along with the other cast – offs in your pen.
Lol its every article with you. “Washed up pitcher X would be perfect for cheap Friedman”.
I hope Phil will get to wearing the Yankee pinstripes again! He deserves it.
I don’t think they would want Phil Hughes and his 6.10 era, unless they work some magic.
Never doubt the magic of Larry Rothschild he fixed CC
For every CC, there is a Mark Prior and Kerry Wood combo. The best thing about Rothschild leaving the Northside was that we never have to see that damn towel drill again.
Dude you ain’t like the Yankees got a amazing pitching coach
Pitchers go to San Diego to rebuild value bc of the pitching coach and the park
Hughes was awful
Rothschild is a very average pitching coach
If Rothschild fixed CC than he ruined sonny?
Good see the journey of Jacob Nix finally reach MLB. Wish it was a start against the ‘Stros that would of been sweet.
I think he might have been a bullpen reclamation product
Honestly if the Giants take him I wouldn’t be mad. I wish they would trade Bumgarner for young SP’s, because outside of Dereck Rodriguez (whom is an absolute stud, might I add) they don’t have any SP depth. Hughes is a fly ball SP but idk if Atnt is too much better of a pitchers park than petco is.
I hope the Giants get him too. It would be nice to be the team teeing off on him for a change.
“…whom is an absolute stud…”
It is “who”. Not whom. Don’t try to look smart, be smart.
The trick is to use whom for him, and who for he.
If “he is an absolute stud” sounds right, then use “who”. I paid attention in 3rd Grade, and you benefit.
Also, do not use Phil Hughes, not for any reason. Do not substitute Hughes for any other pitcher. Not only does it not sound right to use Hughes, it doesn’t look right. Pitchers have reached the end of usefulness when they can’t get outs in Petco Park, where fly balls die and pressure and intensity exist only with fans trying to get their pic posted on the scoreboard.
Is it lonely up there on your pedestal all by yourself? This is a website about baseball not your 3rd grade teachers website. Who and whom are tough ones to remember. Some people are good at grammar and others are good at Math. Why does it matter so much to you that he uses who instead of whom?
Sonny Gray = Phil Hughes
That hot talent lava starts flowing tonight….
This literally is the beginning of it. Gotta admit, I’m pretty excited
Hughes to the Rangers
hughes reminds me of carl pavano and his up and down career….
Do you really need the alphabet soup stats to see Hughes stinks? It’s been obvious to the naked eye for 2 years.
Look how much money Prellar spent on Hughes,Mitchell, Headley, Lyles etc.He has to go.
Get rid of the players that have proven they stink.