The Boston Red Sox made a move to shore up their pitching staff on Thursday morning, inking free agent Collin McHugh to a one-year contract.
McHugh became a free agent at conclusion of last season after spending the past six seasons of his big league career with the Houston Astros, where he served as a key member of the team’s staff as both a reliever and a starter.
The Illinois native was drafted by the New York Mets in 2008 and made his MLB debut with the same team in 2012. After short stints with the Mets and Rockies in 2012 and 2013, he joined the Astros as a waiver claim in 2014.
McHugh’s career took off in Houston, where he became a reliable right-handed member of the team’s staff. He took off in 2014, winning 11 games and posting the best mark on the team with a 2.73 ERA.
The Berry College alum was a key member of the team’s starting rotation from 2014 to 2016, posting a total of 43 wins in 90 starts. After an injury-plagued 2017, he moved to the bullpen for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Now, McHugh will have the opportunity to audition to be a crucial member of the Red Sox’s pitching staff, where he could serves as both a starting pitcher and a reliever.
