Hughes turns down chance for $500,000 bonus

DETROIT (AP) Minnesota Twins right-hander Phil Hughes turned down a chance to pitch again this weekend, even though one more out would have earned him a $500,000 bonus.

Hughes' half-million-dollar bonus kicks in if he reaches 210 innings this year, but he is set to finish with 209 2-3 after a rain delay forced him out of his final scheduled start Wednesday.

Manager Ron Gardenhire says the Twins were prepared to let Hughes pitch again before the end of the season, but Hughes says he didn't feel it was right to make a token appearance just for that purpose - and potentially risk injury by doing so.

Hughes has already triggered a pair of $250,000 bonuses for reaching 180 and 195 innings, on top of his $8 million salary.