Red Sox: Free-agent pitcher Collin McHugh is worth giving another chance
The Red Sox could try again with free-agent pitcher Collin McHugh
Collin McHugh‘s first stint with the Boston Red Sox was about as uneventful as you can get but that doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t warrant a second chance.
The Red Sox signed McHugh to an incentive-laden deal last March but the right-hander never ended up throwing a pitch for his new club. McHugh underwent a procedure the previous December to improve the ailing elbow that spoiled his 2019 campaign but he wasn’t satisfied with how his arm was progressing by the time baseball returned from the COVID-19 hiatus in July. Rather than spend most of a limited 60-game slate on the injured list, McHugh opted out of the 2020 season to remain home with his family.
His decision to opt-out meant the Red Sox didn’t have to pay him but it also left their rotation woefully thin with Eduardo Rodriguez and Chris Sale both sidelined for the entire season. Boston certainly could have used some innings from McHugh – a viable major league pitcher, which is more than we can say about some of the other fodder the Red Sox trotted out to the mound last season. In fairness, it’s hard to fault a guy for prioritizing his family amid a global pandemic or for cautiously taking his time returning from a serious elbow injury.
McHugh has been given a clean bill of health and is scheduled to throw a showcase for multiple interested teams on January 16 in Atlanta, according to Jake Kaplan of The Athletic.
Free agent pitcher Collin McHugh is scheduled to throw a showcase for teams on Jan. 16 in Atlanta. McHugh, who didn't pitch in 2020, recently got a clean bill of health and has garnered interest from multiple teams.
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) January 7, 2021
Boston was burned by McHugh before but that doesn’t mean they should overlook him now. It’s unclear if they are among the interested suitors attending his showcase but it would come as no surprise if the pitching-starved Red Sox had their eye on him. Clearly, there was mutual interest between the sides a year ago and there’s little reason to believe that has changed if he comes with fewer health concerns now.
It’s interesting to note that McHugh’s showcase is scheduled for a few days after Corey Kluber will throw in front of potential suitors. If Kluber fails to impress or if the Red Sox miss out on him due to a successful session pricing him out of their budget, McHugh could join the list of backup plans.
Even if the Red Sox sign Kluber, Odorizzi, Tanaka, or any of the other mid-tier starters rumored to be on their radar, there might still be room for McHugh.
Sale’s timeline is uncertain but he’s expected to miss a significant chunk of the first half of next season. Until he’s ready, Boston will be relying on Rodriguez, Nathan Eovaldi, Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta and Free Agent X to fill the rotation. If the Red Sox aren’t confident that both Houck and Pivetta will recapture the magic of their late-season auditions, it wouldn’t hurt to have a proven veteran to take one of those rotation spots while the two young pitchers battle it out in spring training.
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McHugh should be cheap enough to squeeze into the budget even after signing a more expensive option to fortify the middle of the rotation. The base salary on his last deal that he signed under similar circumstances was a mere $600,000 so he’ll probably only be able to ask for about the same plus incentives this time around.
He has the versatility to bounce between the rotation and bullpen. In 2018 with the Houston Astros, McHugh posted a 1.99 ERA, 0.912 WHIP, and 11.7 K/9 in 58 relief appearances. Boston could easily slide him into the bullpen when Sale returns – or they could keep him in the rotation if he’s outperforming the other starters or if more injuries crop up. The flexibility he offers would make McHugh a valuable asset.
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McHugh won’t be the top free-agent target for the Red Sox this winter, nor should he be. However, he can be a solid complimentary piece to their rotation upgrades.