Carlos

Hernandez

Hernández, who spent much of 2020-24 in the majors with the Royals, made five appearances for the Guardians in the second half, allowing three runs in seven innings. He has a lifetime 5.14 ERA in 25 starts and 166 relief appearances.

Hernández posted a respectable 3.86 ERA across seven innings over five late-season appearances for the Guardians after being claimed off waivers from the Tigers at the trade deadline in late July. The 28-year-old figures to attract some interest in a big-league contract since he holds a serviceable 5.14 ERA across 299 2/3 innings over 191 appearances in the majors dating back to 2020.

This time, the hard-throwing 28-year-old right-hander passed through waivers unclaimed and has reportedly accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A. He’ll continue to function as extra bullpen depth for the Guardians.

Hernández is off the 40-man roster three weeks after being claimed off waivers from the Tigers. The 28-year-old will hit the waiver wire, and could be of interest for a team needing help in their depth for the final push.

You can’t say the Guardians didn’t make any additions to their roster on Thursday, though surely fans of the organization were hoping for more than this. It’s unclear if he’ll report right to the big league club or if he’ll report to Triple-A Columbus.

The 28-year-old hurler has an intriguing arm but has continued to struggle to put it all together when given chances at the big league level. Hernández made 11 appearances during his time with the Tigers, posting a troublesome 10.13 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and a 13/6 K/BB ratio over 10 2/3 innings of work. Geoff Hartlieb was added to the team’s 40-man roster to take Hernández’s place in the Tigers’ bullpen.

The Tigers are plenty familiar with Hernández from all of the time he spent on the Royals. The 28-year-old Hernández was waived by the Phillies last week after posting a 5.26 ERA in 25 2/3 innings of relief work. He’s out of options, so he’ll likely take the spot of either Matt Gage or Tyler Owens in the Tigers pen.

Hernández has always had plenty of talent in his arm, but he was unable to make the most of it as a starter in Kansas City and posted a 5.26 ERA in 25 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for the Phillies this season. Another team may take a gamble on his upper-90s fastball, or he could return to the Phillies’ minor league system.

The Royals had no choice but to subject Hernández, who is out of options, to waivers after he didn’t make the club’s Opening Day roster. The Phillies claimed the 28-year-old right-hander on Sunday. Hernández had a 6.97 ERA in 10 1/3 innings this spring, but notched a 3.30 ERA and 3.50 FIP in 30 innings out of the bullpen in 2024.

It’ll be Kris Bubic opening the year as Kansas City’s fifth starter. Royals manager Matt Quatraro added that Carlos Hernández, who is out of options, is not on the Opening Day roster. He’ll presumably be designated for assignment at some point in the coming days since he can’t be shipped to Triple-A Omaha without clearing waivers.