The team has agreed to a three-year, $24 million with free-agent RHP Phil Hughes, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The deal, which is expected to be announced this week, would mark the second major contract handed out to a free agent pitcher by the Twins this offseason. RHP Ricky Nolasco and Minnesota agreed to terms on a four-year, $49 million deal Wednesday.

The Nolasco contract is the biggest deal ever given by the Twins to an outside free agent, and the Hughes deal would be the second biggest, the Star Tribune reports. It doesn't come without risk.

Hughes, 27, has spent his entire seven-year career with the New York Yankees. He struggled badly in 2013, going 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.455 WHIP.  Much of the damage was done at Yankee Stadium, where he allowed 17 home runs and had a 6.32 ERA, so the Twins are betting a change of scenery to pitcher-friendly Target Field will help his effectiveness.

Hughes was an All-Star in 2010 when he went 18-8 with a 4.19 ERA and was shaping up as a building block for the Yankees' rotation. He was a former first-round draft pick and a once coveted young pitcher by many teams. Among them was the Twins, who had discussions with the Yankees about Hughes headlining a package for ace Johan Santana after the 2007 season.

The Yankees eventually pulled out of the talks, in part because of how highly they thought of Hughes, and the Twins sent Santana to the Mets.

But Hughes developed shoulder problems in 2011 that limited him to 17 starts and has been underwhelming the past two seasons while also dealing with back problems.

Overall, Hughes is 56-50 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

According to the newspaper, the Twin also might re-sign RHP Mike Pelfrey, who went 5-13 with a 5.19 ERA in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.


CANO, YANKEES STILL FAR APART


The New York Yankees and free agent 2B Robinson Cano remain about $100 million apart in contract negotiations, CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman reports.

The five time All-Star recently presented a request for $260 million to the team, which so far is willing to go only to $160 million. But "it is expected they'll go to at least $170 million, which would at least bring the difference between the parties to something below $100 million," according to Heyman.

Cano, 31, is the cream of this year's free-agent crop, and he and agent Jay Z are seeking a nine-year deal with a tenth-year vesting option to bring it to $160 million. That would make his average annual salary $27.8 million, a little more than Alex Rodriguez gets unders the10-year, $275-million deal he signed with the Yankees following the 2007 season.Notheless, Cano's $260 million request representes a steep decline from the $310 million he floated to the Yankees during the season.

Cano has been one of baseball's top players, finishing with a Baseball Reference WAR of at least 7.6 three of the last four seasons. In 2013,  he hit .314/.383/.516 with 27 homers and New York's only consistent source of offense. He finished fifth in MVP voting.


ORIOLES WILLING TO TRADE JOHNSON


Jim Johnson saved a total of 101 games in 2012 and 2013, leading the American League both seasons.

But he also led the league in blown saves in 2013, and the Baltimore Orioles are shopping him in hopes of landing a designated hitter, according to multiple reports.

Johnson, 30, went 3-8 with a 2.94 ERA, 1.280 WHIP, 50 saves, nine blown saves, five home runs allowed and 18 walks in 2013. He had stretches in May and August in which he was awful, blowing game after game in spectacular fashion.

He is arbitration eligible and is likely to make more than $10 million in 2014 given his high save totals of the last two years.

The Baltimore Sun reports Johnson trade rumors have "more legs" than earlier rumors involving C Matt Wieters and SS J.J. Hardy.

If the Orioles move the 2012 All-Star, manager Buck Showalter could hand the closer's role to Tommy Hunter (6-5, 2.81 ERA, four saves in 2013) or Darren O'Day (5-3, 2.18 ERA, two saves), the Boston Globe points out.

Orioles' DH's were among the worst in the league in 2013, hitting a collective .236/.290/.418.


LOTS OF INTEREST IN ARROYO


Seven teams have contacted free agent RHP Bronson Arroyo, one of baseball's most durable pitchers, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

Cafardo did not name the teams, but the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles have been linked to the veteran in earlier reports.

Arroyo, who turns 37 in February, has started at least 32 games for nine straight seasons. He went 14-12 with a 3.79 ERA, 1.153 WHIP and 124 strikeouts for the Cincinnati Reds in 2013.

Contributor: Justin McGuire

PHOTOS: Top 25 free agents