HOT STOVE PANIC: PHIL HUGHES

I think it’s safe to say that Brian Cashman’s less-than-zealous approach to this year’s winter meetings has left us all a bit confused. While other teams seem to be scrambling around trying to build the perfect team for the 2011-2012 season, the Yankees seem to be taking the “hurry up and wait approach”, especially when it comes to trades and free agents. Some have speculated that this approach has everything to do with economics; they’re waiting for the sales prices for players. To us fans, however, there is no “Black Friday” when trying to build a championship worthy team. We’ve watched and waited, wondering what kind of team that Cashman and the Steinbrenner's will build for the approaching baseball season.

One hot topic is Phil Hughes. It seems that the jury is still out on whether or not the 25 starter can produce numbers like he did in 2010. Plagued by injury, lousy starts and a 5.79 era by the end of the season, many of the MLB’s “talking heads”, as well as Yankee fans, are more than cautious about having Hughes return to the Yankees starting rotation for this coming season.

Joe Girardi has been less than candid when discussing the issue. He seems to be holding on to the hope that 2011 was a bad year for Hughes, a necessary bump in the road to a long and successful career as an MLB starting picture. Quoted as saying that he feels that Hughes’ performance last year was merely part of the “learning curve” when it comes to the Big Leagues, Girardi’s cryptic approach to Hughes has people a little nervous. We look at the numbers.

Out of 17 games pitched, 14 starts, Hughes went 5-5. In 2010, however, Hughes pitched and won 18 games. Aside from the injuries that left Hughes on the disabled list for over 2 months, these numbers represent a costly part of the learning curve that leaves fans like us nervous. If we are going to discuss the important issues, such as performance, there are also other issues that are much more concerning to the Yankee’s front office.

With a salary of $2,7000,000 , should Hughes stay on with the Yankees and repeat last year’s performance, his trade value is next to nothing. However, if he pitches like the “lights out” kid as he did in 2010, his value increases, not only for the New York Yankees, but on the trade circuit as well. My guess is that these are the numbers that the Yankees are looking at as well, making the decision of whether Hughes stays or goes even more difficult. As fans, we look at it from the perspective of winning games. As office brass, they also need to look at the future of the investment being made.

I’m not going to make any judgment calls at this time, because to do so would be premature. As difficult as it is to accept, the front office brass has their strategy and to try to decode their thought process would be futile. Whatever the final decision is, if Hughes stays on with the Yankees, we’ll be crossing our fingers that the ace from 2010 will resurface and remain consistent throughout the season.

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer



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