Mets sign righty reliever Hughes to 1-year deal
Sinkerballing reliever Jared Hughes and the Mets agreed Tuesday to a $700,000, oneyear contract, a deal that amounts to $259,259 in prorated pay over the 60-game season.
Hughes can earn an additional $300,000 for days on the active roster: $50,000 each for 10 and 30, and $100,000 apiece for 45 and 60. The roster bonuses would not be prorated.
He had a 6.35 ERA over five appearances and 5.2 innings during spring training with Houston and was released March 19, a week after the exhibition season was stopped by the coronavirus pandemic. If he had been added to Houston’s 40-man roster, he would have received a one-year contract with a salary of $1.5 million while in the majors and $150,000 in the minors.
A right-hander who turns 35 on July 4, Hughes was 5-5 with a 4.04 ERA last season for Cincinnati and Philadelphia, which claimed him off waivers on Aug. 15. He struck out 54 and walked 27 in 71.1 innings, throwing his sinker on about 75% of his pitches. He also throws a 93 mph fastball, slider and changeup.
The Mets had an opening on their 40-man roster after putting Noah Syndergaard on the 45-day injured list while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Hughes was added to the Mets’ 60-man player pool.
MESSI SCORES 700TH
Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal for club and country before Atletico Madrid came back to draw, 2-2, in the Spanish league on Tuesday and deal Barcelona’s title hopes a major blow.
Barcelona’s third draw in four rounds left it in second place, one point behind leader Real Madrid. Madrid hosts Getafe on Thursday with a chance to open up a four-point lead with five matches remaining.
“It is too bad because we keep dropping points and getting further and further away from the title,” Barcelona coach Quique Setien said. “But we have to keep fighting.” Barcelona struck first in the 11th minute when Atletico striker Diego Costa inadvertently redirected a corner by Messi into his own net.
DOUBLE DUTY FOR ANGELS’ OHTANI
Shohei Ohtani will resume his two-way career with the Los Angeles Angels when baseball returns.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed that his Japanese star will pitch and hit in the majors this season.
Ohtani was only a designated hitter last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He wasn’t expected to pitch in 2020 until at least May, and Eppler confirmed that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t altered the Angels’ plans.
Manager Joe Maddon said last week that he hoped Ohtani would start roughly once a week on the mound while serving as the Halos’ designated hitter in 3-4 games between starts.
Ohtani batted .286 last season with 18 homers and 62 RBI and an .848 OPS in 106 games. His production at the plate was nearly identical to his work in 2018, when he was the AL Rookie of the Year while making 10 starts on the mound.