David Schoenfield, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Phil Hughes is a good bet for Twins

Some thoughts on recent transactions and other stuff ...

  • The Twins agreed with Phil Hughes on a three-year extension through 2019 even though he had two years remaining on his current contract. It's a little strange to extend a pitcher two full seasons before free agency but in this case I can understand the reasoning. Hughes came over from the Yankees and had the best season of his career, turning into a strike-throwing machine with just 16 walks in 32 starts and going 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA. If Hughes has that kind of season again, he gets a lot more expensive and probably just plays out his contract and hits free agency. So the Twins are betting that his 2014 season is for real and I like the bet, usual pitcher health risks notwithstanding. Hughes returned to throwing his cutter after essentially ditching it in 2012 and 2013. That seemed to help him generate more groundballs and helped cut his home run rate. Away from the short porch at Yankee Stadium, he pitched inside more often, with less fear about being burned by a cheap home run down the line.

  • Speaking of the Yankees, I love the acquisition of Nathan Eovaldi from the Marlins, a young right-hander with a big fastball who hasn't put everything together yet. He had a 4.37 ERA with the Marlins and led the National League in hits allowed, primarily because he tries to just blow fastballs past hitters -- but his fastball was too straight and too often thrown down the middle. The positives here are that throwing strikes wasn't a problem and he had the third-best fastball velocity among starters, behind only Yordano Ventura and Garrett Richards. He needs to improve his secondary stuff -- or trust it more -- and improve against left-handers, especially with that short porch out there, but it's a great upside play for the Yankees at the cost of a two-win player in Martin Prado. (The Yankees also got Garrett Jones in the trade and he should become a nice bench player for them, with David Phelps going to the Marlins.)

  • For the Marlins, it looked like Prado would bring a nice versatile addition to the club -- he can play third, second and outfield -- but they immediately traded away Casey McGehee to the Giants. With the Yankees picking up some of Prado's salary, this actually looks like a trade to trim some payroll as much anything. Minus McGehee and Jones, the Marlins are left with one of the worst benches in the league, have an injury-prone first baseman in Mike Morse and no backup outfielder even listed on their 40-man roster. The rotation would include injury risks Mat Latos, Dan Haren and Henderson Alvarez, aside from the rehabbing Jose Fernandez. There is reason to get excited about this club -- and Prado is an upgrade over McGehee -- but there's a good chance the lack of depth bites them big in the end.

  • As for McGehee going to the Giants, I guess he's better than Joaquin Arias, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Giants are looking for a new third baseman by the All-Star break. McGehee hit .287 in 2014 after returning from Japan, but hit just four home runs and grounded into 31 double plays. Ugh. He was terrible in the majors in 2011 and 2012. Not sure he's really going to help much and if he doesn't hit .287 again or regain some power, he's a zero on offense.

  • The Pirates were the surprise winners in the bidding for Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang, who tore apart the Korean League with 40 home runs and a 1.198 OPS. They now have 30 days to sign him and reports are he's looking for a four-year, $20 million contract. Seems like a good risk for the Pirates. If their total investment is $25 million, even if he ends up being a good backup infielder it's not a waste of money and there's the chance they hit the lottery and have an above-average player. Most scouts project Kang as a second baseman, although the Pirates are set there with Neil Walker.

  • I told myself I was going to stay away from Hall of Fame stuff this year as we're really just beating the same drums as the past several years. But I know I can't help myself. One article I intend to write at some point is the similarity between Curt Schilling and John Smoltz. Schilling received just 29 percent of the vote last year, while many expect Smoltz to make it in on his first year on the ballot. I don't get the love for Smoltz over Schilling. Anyway, Matthew Pouliot has a take on those two (and Mike Mussina) at Hardball Talk.

  • Cole Hamels to the Padres? Why not. The Padres probably only have Justin Upton for one year. Matt Kemp's defense isn't going to get better and neither are his supposedly arthritic hips. Who knows if the arms of Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross will hold up. They may catch the Dodgers and Giants in slight transition years.

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