Minnesota Twins right-hander Phil Hughes grabbed headlines yesterday (see stack below) for coming up one out short of reaching 210 innings pitched this season, thus failing to cash in on a $500,000 bonus.

The club reportedly offered Hughes the chance Thursday to pitch out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season which would enable him to reach the 210-inning plateau and cash in. Hughes, however, respectfully declined the offer and decided his record-breaking season is over with four games to play.

Hughes set a new MLB record with his stellar 11.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and became is the first hurler in the modern era (since 1901) to allow fewer than 20 walks in over 200 innings.

Don't feel too bad for Hughes missing out on the lucrative incentive - he did bank $8 million for his services this year and will make the same amount over the next two seasons in Minny.