MINNEAPOLIS -- Phil Hughes has long been on Minnesotas radar. Magic Johnson Lakers Jersey . Thanks to a rough season by the right-hander in New York, the Twins finally added him to their roster. "He probably wouldnt be sitting here if he had an average year. So maybe this is a good omen for us," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said, adding: "Weve got hopes that with a change of scenery that were going to get him going in the right direction." Hughes went 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA for the Yankees last season, and the Twins finalized a $24 million, three-year contract with him after he passed his physical Thursday. This was their second significant step toward restoring a ragged rotation, after signing right-hander Ricky Nolasco Tuesday to a $49 million, four-year deal. Twins starters had the worst collective ERA in the majors last season. "I think its going to be great. Like Terry said, I struggled last year," Hughes said at an introductory news conference at Target Field. "Coming to a new team, a new place and a ballpark thats obviously a little bit more conducive to pitching is going to help a lot." Minnesota picked Trevor Plouffe at No. 20 and Glen Perkins at No. 22 in the 2004 draft, and Hughes went from Santa Ana, Calif., to the Yankees at No. 23. After breezing through their minor league system, he made his debut in 2007. When the Twins were shopping Johan Santana in trades before the 2008 season, Hughes was high on their wish list. But the Twins consummated a deal with the Mets, not the Yankees. Hughes had a stellar season as a setup man for the World Series champions in 2009, won 18 games in 2010 and 16 games in a career-high 191-plus innings in 2012. "Im a firm believer that everything happens for a reason," Hughes said. "It wasnt right in 2004 and it wasnt right in 2008, but I think its going to be right in 2014." The Twins are banking on a move out of hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium to spacious Target Field will help Hughes rediscover the success he had earlier in his career. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Hughes was an All-Star in 2010. "Hes got the velocity. Hes got a curveball. Hes got a slider. Hes got a change. Hes big. Hes strong," Ryan said, adding: "Hes only 27. Pitching in New York and in Yankee Stadium is nothing like it would be here at Target Field. ... We need pitching. Were willing to take a risk." He will make $8 million in each of the next three seasons. The contract includes $1 million in annual performance bonuses: $250,000 each for reaching 180 and 195 innings and $500,000 for reaching 210 innings. Hughes still had 121 strikeouts in 145 2-3 innings last season, despite his struggles. He couldve taken a one-year offer, got back on track and cashed in with a bigger contract next winter. But he liked the commitment showed by the Twins, who wanted some stability. Ryan said Hughes was the youngest free agent pitcher on the market this year. "I dont want to get too far ahead of myself, but obviously when you sign two guys for the dollars that we have here, you have high hopes that were improving this rotation," Ryan said. Behind Nolasco and Hughes is returning veteran Kevin Correia. The other spots are open, with Samuel Deduno, Scott Diamond, Kyle Gibson and Vance Worley among the leading candidates at this point. Ryan said the team is still considering other available free agents. To make room on the 40-man roster for Hughes, the Twins designed right-hander Liam Hendriks for assignment. Being a part of a rebuilding project was another attraction for Hughes, as was escaping the pressurized environment in New York. "That the Twins wanted me for the long term, or somewhat long term, was enticing for sure and something I felt a lot of value with, going to a team that really wants you around," Hughes said. Elgin Baylor Jersey . Inter moved five points behind fourth-place Fiorentina and eight points behind third-place Napoli, which visits relegation-threatened Sassuolo on Sunday. Anthony Davis Jersey .Y. -- The New York Islanders were merely content with a lopsided victory. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/Jerry-West-Lakers-Jersey/ . -- David Price didnt think he would be in Port Charlotte this spring.Paris, France (SportsNetwork.com) - Fourth seed Simona Halep, former finalist Sara Errani and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova all secured berths in the quarterfinals at the French Open on Monday. The highest-remaining womens seed Halep humbled 15th-seeded American Sloane Stephens, 6-4, 6-3. Stephens couldnt overcome 35 unforced errors on Day 9 of the fortnight. The 21-year-old Stephens, who was the last American standing, mens or womens, is the only woman to have reached the second week at the last six Grand Slam events. The 22-year-old Halep, meanwhile, will now appear in her first-ever French Open quarterfinal. She reached her first Grand Slam quarter at this years Australian Open. Haleps quarterfinal opponent will be the 27th-seeded Russian Kuznetsova, who upended 23rd-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-4 to reach her seventh career French Open quarter. Kuznetsova is a two-time major champion, including a Roland Garros title in 2009. She was a runner-up at the French back in 2006. The 28-year-old former world No. 2 secured her first major title at the 2004 U.S. Open. The 10th-seeded gritty Italian Errani landed a bevy of drop shots in upending sixth-seeded former U.S. Open runner-up Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 in just under two hours on the famed red clay. Errani blew a 4-1 lead in the first set when Jankovic stormed back to win four straight games to take tthe lead, at 5-4, but the Italian broke the Serb to level the stanza at 5-5. Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys. Jankovic grabbed another lead at 6-5 and had a set point, but Errani saved it and eventually forced a tiebreak, which she won to assume control of the match. The second set was all Errani, who will now appear in a third straight quarterfinal at this Parisian major. She was the 2012 Roland Garros runner-up to Maria Sharapova. Her round-of-eight opponent will be 28th-seeded German and resurgent former top-10 star Andrea Petkovic, who came from behind to beat Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5. Petkovic reached the quarters here three years ago before missing the 2012 and 2013 French Opens due to injury. She actually considered retiring from tennis after a succession of ailments saw her drop out of the top 10 and plummet all the way down to No. 143. The quarterfinals will commence Tuesday, with a seventh-seeded Sharapova taking on rising Spaniard Garbine Muguruza and 14th-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro battling 18th-seeded Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who was an Aussie Open semifinalist in January. The Russian star Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in last years Roland Garros finale and completed a career Grand Slam with her lone French Open title two years ago. The Russians Sharapova and Kuznetsova are the only former champions still standing among the ladies. ' ' '