As we near the end of Major League Baseball’s regular season, incentive bonuses in player contracts are coming into play with only a few games remaining.
In the case of Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes, his 2014 season comes to an end agonizingly short of an additional $500,000.
Hughes was to receive the half million dollar bonus for reaching 210 innings pitched this season. He started Wednesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but did not return after an hour-long rain delay, leaving his inning total for the year at 209 2/3, just one out shy of the required amount.
After initially saying Hughes wouldn’t be used in a relief role to reach the threshold, the team apparently changed course.
Twins offered Phil Hughes the chance to pitch this weekend but he declined.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) September 25, 2014
Hughes said he was surprised Twins offered him a chance to pitch in relief to reach $500K bonus. But said he didn't want to risk injury.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) September 25, 2014
More Hughes on declining offer to pitch in relief: “I owe too much to the organization over the next two years to risk getting hurt.”
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) September 25, 2014
Hughes also said simply being given the $500K bonus despite not reaching 210 IP mark would set a bad precedent. Said it wasn't meant to be.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) September 25, 2014
Terry Ryan said the Twins can't just give him the $500K bonus due to CBA. They'd have to restructure contract.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) September 25, 2014
It’s certainly admirable Phil Hughes is taking the “wasn’t meant to be” approach. On the other hand, you have to think there are more than a few who wouldn’t have turned down the chance to earn an extra $500,000, especially only needing to record one out to do so.
After going 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA in 2013 with the Yankees, the Twins invested $24 million over three years to bring Hughes to Minnesota. That said, I can certainly see his point about owing a lot to the organization.
