Yesterday, a rain delay stopped Phil Hughes just short of collecting a half-a-million dollar bonus.
In Hughes’ contract, there was a stipulation which said that if he managed to pitch 210 innings in the season, he’d get an extra $500,000. He was on pace to reach that magic number against the Diamondbacks when pouring rain caused a delay in action during the eighth inning. Up to that point, Hughes total number of innings pitched stood at 209 and 2/3rds. He didn’t see the mound again.
Seeing as he was just one out away from getting five hundred grand, the Twins actually offered Hughes the opportunity to pitch in relief this weekend to get his bonus. He declined the offer:
Today the Twins offered Hughes a chance to make a brief relief appearance over the weekend in order to reach the magic 210-inning mark. He turned that down and also said he wouldn’t have been interested in simply being given the $500,000 bonus.
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
Major props to Hughes for not letting his contract get in the way of the “spirit of the game” or whatever, but if anyone’s earned the opportunity to make a little extra cash for his play this year, it’s Hughes.
