Collin McHugh is drawing “robust” interest from several teams, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports (Twitter link), and the Red Sox are one of the clubs looking at the 34-year-old right-hander.
Signing with Boston would technically represent a reunion for McHugh, though he didn’t actually end up pitching for the team after signing an incentive-laden one-year contract (worth $600K in guaranteed money) prior to the 2020 season. McHugh was battling elbow problems through 2019 and underwent a non-surgical procedure that offseason, and his arm still wasn’t entirely ready to go even with the delayed start to the 2020 campaign. McHugh ultimately decided to opt out of the 2020 season entirely, and then signed a one-year, $1.2MM deal with the Rays last winter.
Injuries were still a factor for McHugh in 2021, as he missed about a month during two separate IL stints for a back strain and arm fatigue. But, McHugh was outstanding in his comeback season, posting a 1.55 ERA over 64 innings with Tampa, working as both a traditional reliever and as an opener. McHugh’s Statcast page was a veritable sea of red numbers, as he finished among the league’s best in walk rate (4.9%) and limiting hard contact, among virtually every other major category.
A solid starter with the Astros earlier in his career, McHugh now seems to have carved out a new niche for himself as a dominant bullpen arm who can be deployed in multiple ways. This skillset has natural appeal for many teams, and the Red Sox in particular seems like a fit given how chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom (formerly of Tampa Bay’s front office) has been looking to take a Rays-esque versatile approach to Boston’s pitching mix. Bloom likely had this exact plan in mind for McHugh at the time of the original signing two years ago, before McHugh’s injury recovery and the complications of the pandemic provided too large an obstacle.
Salvi
Sounds good for Red Sox, they need bullpen help badly.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Hot, cold, hot, cold. How much are you willing to pay for a cold season?
123redsox
He’s had 2 bad seasons… 2016 and 2019
ajrodz1335
As a Rays fan, I’d rather not
Ham Lambert
This is the guy I want. Perfect skill set. If we overpay someone its gotta be McHugh. He can give us 125 great innings.
Ducky Buckin Fent
He’s probably not going to go from 64 innings to 125. Generally speaking, workload increases from one season to the next are 35%. So a 20-25 inning increase. Best case ~ 90 innings on the year.
Good pitcher though. Those very well could be 90 excellent innings.
deweybelongsinthehall
If be content with 75 innings (max). Given his injury history, I’d want to play it safe so he’s available in October.
kingbum
Given how the game is managed today, 100 innings would be great. A 200 innings guy isn’t needed and 100 innings is even a bit much for the bullpen. Closer by committee seems to be the way to go.
HighOnPineTar
Here’s your closer/stopper, great fit. Barnes has no right in that role to start the season, and I’d rather see them stretch Whitlock out in the rotation w/ Houck with the pitching core they already have, and spend their money on Suzuki etc…
bkbk
Big fit for the halos
5toolMVP
He’s got the medical history that meets LAA qualifications.
Pete'sView
He’d be a great swing man for the Giants.
JeffreyChungus
Want to bring bad vibes and ruin the chemistry in the clubhouse? Sign McHugh
bross16
What did he do that’s so bad?
FudgeMucker
Ditto this question. What’s wrong with him in the clubhouse?
JeffreyChungus
Remember when he was unsigned well into 2020 spring training? It wasn’t because teams had no interest in his abilities or were had injury concerns
To keep things brief, his wife causes drama among the WAGs and Collin drags it into the clubhouse, and he spends too much time on twitter bashing fans of whatever org he plays for and doubles down on trashing the city and its culture on the way out. McHugh seems like a guy that would get along with Bloom, but not so much Barnes, Brasier, Taylor, etc. That’s just what I’ve heard that can be corroborated from at least one source
bross16
This seems more like a rumour than the truth
jdgoat
L
JeffreyChungus
L + ratio
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
This would be a classic Chaim Bloom signing.
Salvi
Quality under the radar signing. True.
KD17
Another bad one? I agree.. McHugh just had his career year. Buying high and selling low is a trait of Bloom so this could happen!!
MLB-1971
The Red Sox already signed McHugh in 2020, and he was in spring trading with the Red Sox, so he is a known quantity. He decided to opt-out more because he would not have recovered from surgery in time to compete more than Covid.
Ham Lambert
McHugh has past. totals of 154,183, and 210 innings pitched. Getting 125 is a fair and reasonable total for him.
deweybelongsinthehall
Plan on less but quality so there’s a better chance he’s available for the playoffs.
KD17
Dewey – What team making the playoffs would you want to trade him to?
HalosHeavenJJ
Would be a godsend here. We have a lot of 5 inning pitchers. Bridging the gap to Loup and Iglesias will be a consistent challenge. He solves that 2-3 days per week.
hawkny11
It should be an incentive laden contract if Bloom signs him.
whyhayzee
McHugh and Hill combined are one very good starter. Maybe get 80 innings out of each guy.
deweybelongsinthehall
Not a bad idea. Actually I like it because you then have the option of using them as starters meaning both Houck and Whitlock can close out the wins.
deweybelongsinthehall
Meant to add in October.
Mario93
The guy I wanted the blue Jays to sign …
kingbum
Pay the man his money Boston, his upside is worth it I want him
LaBalaDePlata
Still one of the better moves in Astros history. He was 0-8 with a 9+ ERA when they picked him up off waivers, and ended up 58-35 with a 3.63 ERA in his six years in Houston. All about that spin rate!
sergefunction
Hinch reunion? Relationship status there?