David

Hernandez

Beau Taylor and Daniel Johnson got the same news Monday. Hernandez signed a minor league contract with Cleveland earlier this month after struggling to a 8.02 ERA in 42 2/3 innings last year with the Reds.

Hernandez will be part of the Indians’ 60-man player pool and will report to their summer camp in Cleveland. The veteran reliever posted an 8.02 ERA and 53/20 K/BB ratio in 42 2/3 innings for the Reds’ last season.

Hernandez was signed to a minor league contract in January. The right-hander was awful with the Reds in 2020 with an 8.02 ERA and 53/20 K/BB ratio in 42 2/3 innings. He also had a ghastly 19.29 ERA in spring training, and had no chance of making the Nationals’ 26-man roster. He could be of interest on the market, but he’s just organizational depth at this point.

Presumably, that deal will come with an invitation to major league spring training as well, though that has yet to be confirmed. Just one year removed from being one of the top relief pitchers in the National league, Hernandez posted a horrifying 8.02 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 53/20 K/BB ratio over 42 2/3 innings with the Reds before getting released in August. He’s a nice low-risk, high-reward signing for the Nationals.

Hernandez signed a minor league contract with the Yankees last month following his release from the Reds and went on to allow seven runs -- six earned -- in seven innings of work at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He wasn’t going to be a September callup for New York.

Hernandez was designated for assignment by the Reds last week and subsequently released after struggling to an 8.02 ERA in 42 2/3 innings this season. The 34-year-old right-hander has been a very effective major league reliever in the past -- in fact, he had a 2.53 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 65/17 K/BB ratio over 64 innings in 2018. Maybe he still has something left in the tank.

Hernandez cleared waivers and is now a free agent. He’s put up an 8.02 ERA this season, but the veteran reliever should get another opportunity somewhere.

Hernandez has posted an ugly 8.02 ERA this season and has been particularly brutal lately while also dealing with shoulder issues. Still, given his track record he should be able to land on his feet somewhere.

Hernandez was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the bottom of the 10th inning. It’s safe to assume that closer Raisel Iglesias was unavailable after pitching on back-to-back days and three of the Reds’ last four contests. The 34-year-old righty gave up a solo homer to Tyler Flowers, but managed to close this one out. He owns a disastrous 6.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 50/16 K/BB ratio across 40 1/3 innings of work this season.

Hernandez missed the last couple weeks with right shoulder fatigue but has been throwing off a mound for a few days with no issues. He was struggling before getting hurt, so the Reds might ease him back into setup duties.