Phil Hughes has struggled as a starter for the New York Yankees this season, leading to speculation that he should market himself as a reliever.

"Hughes is a reliever to me," said a scout. "That's where he was his best (2009). That's how I would use him."

Hughes will be a free agent this winter and currently has a 4.99 ERA and 4-11 record.

"It's a valid point, and I have heard both sides of it for a long time," Hughes said. "For right now, this organization feels that my most value to them is as a starter. That's what my job has been. That's what I have been trying to do. All those other things -- where am I going to go, and what am I going to do? -- Those are questions for the offseason."

Hughes added that he wouldn't be close-minded about signing with a club as a reliever.

"No," he said. "I mean, I feel like pitching at this level is a blessing in any way. So if teams value me as a starter, that's great. If not, and that's their opinion, we'll see what happens. We will see how it shakes out."