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Rays To Sign Collin McHugh

By Connor Byrne | February 12, 2021 at 9:30pm CDT

FEB. 12: The Rays have finalized a $1.8MM deal with McHugh, pending a physical, Topkin reports.

FEB. 11, 9:55pm: If finalized, it will be a one-year major league pact, Topkin writes.

9:15pm: The Rays and right-hander Collin McHugh are closing in on an agreement, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. There’s “work to be done” on both sides prior to the deal becoming official, though, Topkin adds.

McHugh was largely successful with the Astros as a starter and reliever from 2014-19, but elbow issues negatively affected him in the last of those years and continued to do so in 2020. McHugh signed with the Red Sox before last season, but he was ultimately not healthy enough to pitch for the club. The 33-year-old has recovered since then, though, according to Topkin, and his history indicates he could be a useful pickup for the Rays if he is indeed back from his arm problems.

McHugh, also a former Met and Rockie, would bring a lifetime 3.95 ERA with almost a strikeout per inning and fewer than three walks per nine across a lifetime 800 2/3 frames to the Rays. Considering McHugh established himself in Houston as someone capable of filling long- and short-inning roles, it seems he would fit in well on a Tampa Bay team known for its flexibility with its pitching staff.

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Tampa Bay Rays Transactions Collin McHugh

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52 Comments

  1. Francys01

    5 years ago

    Adding Collin McHugh to the Rays starting rotation might be an excellent signing by the team.

    13
    Reply
    • HBan22

      5 years ago

      They’re probably looking at him as a reliever. He was much more dominant as a reliever in recent seasons, and with his health issues they may not think he can handle a starter’s workload. But hey, never say never. It is the Rays after all.

      3
      Reply
      • downeysoft42

        5 years ago

        2-3 innings 2-3 days a week is all they need from him. Get 4/5 guys (which they have) who can do the same thing and their looking solid.

        5
        Reply
        • mp2891

          5 years ago

          Just to be clear, you mean 2-3 innings every 3 days or so, right? No pitcher is pitching 2-3 innings 3 times per week.

          Reply
    • Deadguy

      5 years ago

      It could be a great signing, however I do think the Rays took a solid pitching staff and tore it down and filled it with quite a few question marks.

      Reply
      • mt in baltimore

        5 years ago

        Agreed. In doing this they are not as high- profile presently, but they did pick-up strength for the future from the Padres.

        1
        Reply
    • goalieguy41

      5 years ago

      He’s not starting. Read the article.

      Reply
      • oldmansteve

        5 years ago

        Did you read the article? It doesn’t state whether he will or wont be starting, just his injury history and what he has done in the past. The Rays use openers all the time, so the title starter for them is basically irrelevant.

        2
        Reply
  2. Rsox

    5 years ago

    Would have liked to see him come back to Boston since we never did get to see him pitch

    4
    Reply
    • Jeff Zanghi

      5 years ago

      I agree… I’m kind of surprised the didn’t make an effort to bring him back. I mean if they felt like he was going to be effective if healthy last year what changed this season? And i think they really could have used a guy with his experience and skill set. Kind of disappointed they didn’t bring him back for another attempt.

      Reply
      • 123redsox

        5 years ago

        When they signed matt andreise for the role bringing him back was kind of redundant

        Reply
        • looiebelongsinthehall

          5 years ago

          No such thing as redundancy in today’s pitching world. Bloom likely didn’t see enough upside with his recovery to spend what he likely wanted.

          Reply
        • Cora the Destroya

          5 years ago

          Probably better than Martin Perez.

          1
          Reply
        • deweybelongsinthehall

          5 years ago

          Perez was signed to continue the Process role of marking him down for innings. Upside is not there but dependability is though and that’s something McHugh can’t give you.

          Reply
    • 123redsox

      5 years ago

      I agree 100%. But the same swing role the sox were planning to have him function in will now be held by Matt andreise

      Reply
  3. Ji-Man Choi

    5 years ago

    A new “bulk” guy or a potential rotation piece. I love it

    4
    Reply
  4. zoinksscoob

    5 years ago

    Two words: spin rate. He was the poster child for tracking spin rate when the Astros picked him up. The Rays are all about the new metrics.

    4
    Reply
    • bot

      5 years ago

      “New metrics” or all about cheating w pine tar ??

      Reply
      • oldoak33

        5 years ago

        Oh look, it’s the guy (bot) that figured out most pitchers use tack to grip a ball.

        Reply
        • tribepride17

          5 years ago

          The league is cracking down now so guys like Cole and Kluber will be very interested to watch this year.

          Reply
  5. VonPurpleHayes

    5 years ago

    Seems like an obvious fit after the fact. Like it’s weird I didn’t think of it earlier, but I do think he’ll work well in that Rays system.

    4
    Reply
  6. stubby66

    5 years ago

    Ok what the hell are the Brewers doing !!!!!!

    1
    Reply
    • Rsox

      5 years ago

      Signing every Utility Infielder they can find hoping they can play 3B?

      2
      Reply
  7. It’scalledawinningstreak

    5 years ago

    Cheers! The Rays with another solid piece.

    1
    Reply
  8. DarkSide830

    5 years ago

    DD swoop in!

    1
    Reply
  9. mlb1225

    5 years ago

    Collin McHugh the reliever is 10x better than Collin McHugh the starter.

    3
    Reply
  10. Grade_1_teacher

    5 years ago

    Meet your new opener.

    2
    Reply
    • Rsox

      5 years ago

      The Rays seemed to have abonded the “Opener” bit last season, hopefully that holds true this season as well. They Rays have an interesting staff with Glasnow, Yarbrough, Wacha, Archer, Fleming, Richards, McKay, Patino, and Honeywell if he’s healthy. McHugh can join that mix as well

      Reply
      • Mrivers

        5 years ago

        Yes, they have moved on from the opener but still pull starters quickly as evidenced in the playoffs. Guys like Fleming will be on a short leash.

        Reply
      • SleepyGorilla

        5 years ago

        To be fair we had less of a need for openers last year with Snell, Morton, and Glasnow anchoring the rotation

        Reply
        • Mrivers

          5 years ago

          Exactly….the Rays usually figure it out. Snell is a big loss. Even though he didn’t always go that far he gave quality innings.

          Reply
      • startinglineup

        5 years ago

        Dont forget mcclanahan

        Reply
      • Dorothy_Mantooth

        5 years ago

        Add Rich Hill to this list as well

        Reply
  11. Oxford Karma

    5 years ago

    He’ll be a bulk guy for the Rays and be set up to win 16-17 games.

    1
    Reply
  12. balloonknots

    5 years ago

    Hold ur horses as Collin hasn’t had good velocity ever really but down in high 80’s – so he lives off his slider which is fine but recent elbow problems and expecting high innings off the slider may not be a great idea. Now Rays know how use these vets to Max value but don’t see this as major win by means even in best case scenario. Stay healthy Collin hope you get some quality high leverage innings n nail it

    Reply
  13. AC Surf Baseball

    5 years ago

    The Rays like to use openers. Good role for McHugh since he’s not quite a starter, yet not quite a reliever either.

    2
    Reply
    • mp2891

      5 years ago

      I don’t think the Rays will use McHugh as an opener. That position is traditionally limited to the first 5-6 batters, or 1-2 innings of work. Now, if the Rays adopt a piggyback model, then I could see McHugh go first.

      Reply
    • SleepyGorilla

      5 years ago

      If anything, they’d use an opener for McHugh

      Reply
  14. MikeD26

    5 years ago

    Just go sing Walker or Paxton now.

    Reply
  15. raft

    5 years ago

    I don’t believe he is healthy. He said he was healthy the last year as an Astro, then as a Redsox. He is a stand up man involved with the community and his wife is also a classy act.

    Reply
  16. 1984wasntamanual

    5 years ago

    So McHugh for AL Cy Young?

    Reply
  17. bravesfan

    5 years ago

    Such a rays move…

    Reply
  18. BuJoBi

    5 years ago

    He fits right in tbay, another reclamation project for tbay and if history shows anything expect McHugh to go back to his old form when he was with Houston.

    Good signing.

    3
    Reply
  19. astros_fan_84

    5 years ago

    I’m want to know the salary. I bet it’s a nice value signing.

    Reply
  20. MikeD26

    5 years ago

    Tampa got better.

    Reply
  21. HalosHeavenJJ

    5 years ago

    Starters get two trips through the line up. He’ll get a couple innings after that a couple times a week.

    Reply
  22. George hubschman, roto imbeciles

    5 years ago

    We barely remember that McHugh was a 19 game winner for the Astros in 2015. He won 13 games with a career high 177 K’s in 2016. But between injuries and the Astros’ need for bullpen help, McHugh became a RP in 2018. Some might call that a career season for him with a 1.99/0.91 ERA/WHIP, 94/21 K/BB and 45 HA in 72 1/3 IP. The Rays did good today, also adding Rich Hill to the staff. But we all know that Rich Hill makes Giancarlo Stanton look like Cal Ripken, Jr.

    1
    Reply
  23. TheLawAbides

    5 years ago

    I’d like to see him get another chance to be a starter, maybe I’m old school but I’ll take anyone that can give me 200 innings

    Reply
  24. Cora the Destroya

    5 years ago

    Rays keep playing to their formula. Both McHugh and Hill are 5 inning guys but they just keep adding pitchers and bullpen starters that work to their advantage.

    Reply
  25. Mynameisnoname

    5 years ago

    Mid 2010’s Ray’s on the way. A lull in their three year run. By the time they’re graduating Franco and crew, the RS could be re-emerging with the Blue Jays an established recent contender. Sprinkle in the guaranteed 90+ wins for the Yankees and we should not have to see that dreadful stadium in the playoffs (unless they reintroduce expansion) for awhile.

    They missed out on all of their preferred SP discount targets and are now vaccuming in anything with a pulse and a spin rate.

    Reply
  26. tom brunanskys black sock

    5 years ago

    Sharpen my pencil and call me Stretch

    Reply
  27. leftykoufax

    5 years ago

    Nice low cost signing for the Rays.

    Reply

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