Yankees, Phil Hughes avoid arbitration

The New York Yankees and right-handed starter Phil Hughes will not be heading to an arbitration hearing. Hughes has agreed to a one-year contract with the Bombers, the Journal News' Chad Jennings reported Wednesday. The New York Daily News' Mark Feinsand later reported that the deal is worth $7.15 million.

Hughes is coming off a season in which he tossed a career-high 191.1 innings New York and whiffed a career-high 165 batters. The northpaw cut his walk rate from 3.3 BB/9 in 2011 to 2.2 in 2012 and upped his strikeout rate from 5.7 K/9 in 2011 to 7.8 in 2012, but his numbers were doomed by a massive amount of gopher-balls. Hughes gave up 1.6 homers per nine innings while posting a fly-ball percentage of 47.6, an unfriendly number for homer-happy Yankee Stadium.

This will likely be Hughes' last time through salary arbitration; he will be eligible for free agency following the 2013 season.