Board News » 3 ERA against the Diamondbacks and low

MINNEAPOLIS -- Phil Hughes has long been on Minnesotas radar. Thanks to a rough season by the right-hander in New York, the Twins finally added him to their roster. "He probably wouldnt be sitting here if he had an average year. So maybe this is a good omen for us," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said, adding: "Weve got hopes that with a change of scenery that were going to get him going in the right direction." Hughes went 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA for the Yankees last season, and the Twins finalized a $24 million, three-year contract with him after he passed his physical Thursday. This was their second significant step toward restoring a ragged rotation, after signing right-hander Ricky Nolasco Tuesday to a $49 million, four-year deal. Twins starters had the worst collective ERA in the majors last season. "I think its going to be great. Like Terry said, I struggled last year," Hughes said at an introductory news conference at Target Field. "Coming to a new team, a new place and a ballpark thats obviously a little bit more conducive to pitching is going to help a lot." Minnesota picked Trevor Plouffe at No. 20 and Glen Perkins at No. 22 in the 2004 draft, and Hughes went from Santa Ana, Calif., to the Yankees at No. 23. After breezing through their minor league system, he made his debut in 2007. When the Twins were shopping Johan Santana in trades before the 2008 season, Hughes was high on their wish list. But the Twins consummated a deal with the Mets, not the Yankees. Hughes had a stellar season as a setup man for the World Series champions in 2009, won 18 games in 2010 and 16 games in a career-high 191-plus innings in 2012. "Im a firm believer that everything happens for a reason," Hughes said. "It wasnt right in 2004 and it wasnt right in 2008, but I think its going to be right in 2014." The Twins are banking on a move out of hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium to spacious Target Field will help Hughes rediscover the success he had earlier in his career. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Hughes was an All-Star in 2010. "Hes got the velocity. Hes got a curveball. Hes got a slider. Hes got a change. Hes big. Hes strong," Ryan said, adding: "Hes only 27. Pitching in New York and in Yankee Stadium is nothing like it would be here at Target Field. ... We need pitching. Were willing to take a risk." He will make $8 million in each of the next three seasons. The contract includes $1 million in annual performance bonuses: $250,000 each for reaching 180 and 195 innings and $500,000 for reaching 210 innings. Hughes still had 121 strikeouts in 145 2-3 innings last season, despite his struggles. He couldve taken a one-year offer, got back on track and cashed in with a bigger contract next winter. But he liked the commitment showed by the Twins, who wanted some stability. Ryan said Hughes was the youngest free agent pitcher on the market this year. "I dont want to get too far ahead of myself, but obviously when you sign two guys for the dollars that we have here, you have high hopes that were improving this rotation," Ryan said. Behind Nolasco and Hughes is returning veteran Kevin Correia. The other spots are open, with Samuel Deduno, Scott Diamond, Kyle Gibson and Vance Worley among the leading candidates at this point. Ryan said the team is still considering other available free agents. To make room on the 40-man roster for Hughes, the Twins designed right-hander Liam Hendriks for assignment. Being a part of a rebuilding project was another attraction for Hughes, as was escaping the pressurized environment in New York. "That the Twins wanted me for the long term, or somewhat long term, was enticing for sure and something I felt a lot of value with, going to a team that really wants you around," Hughes said. NFL Jerseys Wholesale . -- D.A. Points was disqualified Friday from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for using a training device while waiting to play the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. Cheap College Jerseys .C. - Steve Clifford isnt exactly singing his teams praises after the Bobcats won for the sixth time in seven games. http://www.nfljerseyschinafreeshipping.com/. Both moves were announced Tuesday. The Titans had waived Matthews on Saturday when they promoted wide receiver Michael Preston from the practice squad. Cheap Jerseys China . He was 90. The team announced Monday that Adams had died, saying he "passed away peacefully from natural causes." The son of a prominent oil executive, Adams built his own energy fortune and founded the Houston Oilers. Authentic Jerseys NFL China . "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub. PHOENIX -- Yovani Gallardo has always pitched well against Arizona. Home, away, doesnt matter. He has the Diamondbacks number. Gallardo outpitched Chase Anderson in seven strong innings to remain undefeated against Arizona, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday. "Sometimes you look at it as how this game is," Gallardo said of his track record against Arizona. "There are certain things like that I wish I could explain, but I just cant." A day after losing to Arizona on a walkoff hit, the Brewers beat the Diamondbacks for the third time in four games behind Gallardo (5-4). The right-hander entered the game with a 1.93 ERA against the Diamondbacks and lowered it by holding them to a run over seven innings. He improved to 7-0 in 10 career starts against Arizona and earned his 86th career win, tying Ben Sheets for fifth on Milwaukees all-time list. "Weve had him on the ropes several times, but his somehow wriggles out of it, but today he just kind of dominated us," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said of Gallardo. "There wasnt a lot of opportunities out there for us and when we had the opportunities we didnt do anything with them." Milwaukees Carlos Gomez had a run-scoring single in the eighth inning to extend his career high-hitting streak to 15 games and reached base for the 32nd straight game, the majors longest active streak. Francisco Rodriguez worked around a hit in the ninth inning for his majors-leading 23rd save this season and 327th career, moving past Roberto Hernandez for 14th all-time. Gallardo did most of the heavy lifting. Coming off two solid starts, he retired the first 10 batters he faced until Chris Owings blooped a single to right in the fourth inning. Owings reached third, but Gallardo stranded him there. The Diamondbacks had two hits to start the fifth inning and scored a run on Didi Gregorius grounder, but that was it off Gallardo. He alloweed five hits and struck out four, improving to 5-0 in six career starts at Chase Field.dddddddddddd. "He gets to where hes throwing a lot of strikes and you know hes going his rhythm going then," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. Anderson (5-2) wasnt bad, either. He had a superb start to his major league career, becoming the first Diamondbacks rookie to win his first five starts. Even though he pitched well, his run came to an end in his last start, when he allowed two runs on four hits in five innings of a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander was good again against the Brewers, holding them without a hit until Aramis Ramirez led off the fifth inning with a double. Lyle Overbay followed with a run-scoring double and Elian Herrera added an RBI single to put Milwaukee up 2-0. Ramirez made it 3-1 with a run-scoring single in the sixth after Jean Segura wound up on second with an infield single and a throwing error by Anderson. Anderson allowed two earned runs on five hits and struck out five in six innings. Hes allowed two earned runs or less in six of seven starts. "That was one of the better days Ive felt out there," Anderson said. "A couple of bloop hits, but limited the damage and felt good." Gomez struck out three times before hitting a run-scoring single in the eighth off Matt Stites, who made his major league debut. NOTES: Gregorius, a shortstop throughout his career, made his first career start at third base to give Martin Prado a rest. He was tested right away and made a nice play, snaring leadoff hitter Scooter Gennetts sinking liner. ... Brewers OF Ryan Braun, who has played 999 career games, and C Jonathan Lucroy were given the day off. ... RHP Josh Collmenter will start Friday when the Diamondbacks open a three-game series against San Francisco. RHP Marco Estrada will pitch for the Brewers to start a three-game road series against Colorado on Friday. ' ' '