MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired Minor League catcher Janigson Villalobos from the San Diego Padres in exchange for right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes, cash considerations and Minnesota's 2018 Competitive Balance B Draft selection (74th overall pick). Hughes was designated for assignment on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Venezuela-born catcher has yet to appear in a game this year, but he spent the 2017 season with the Arizona Rookie League Padres hitting .275 (22-for-80) over 27 games. The 5-foot-9 195-pounder has played in parts of two Minor League seasons in the Padres system after signing as a Minor League free agent on March 5, 2016. Villalobos will report to the Gulf Coast League Twins (Rookie League).
Hughes, who was originally signed by the Twins as a free agent prior to the 2014 season, posted a 6.75 ERA (12 innings, nine earned runs) in seven appearances (two starts) for the Twins in 2018. In parts of five seasons with the Twins, Hughes went 32-29 with a 4.43 ERA (489 2/3 innings, 241 earned runs) over 92 games (79 starts).