Marlins reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo is currently serving an eight-week suspension for falsifying his identity, but apparently the pitcher formerly known as Leo Nunez got a much stiffer penalty than the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona is likely to receive.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Carmona, who’s now known as Roberto Hernandez, could be back with the Indians by the All-Star break and likely will not have to serve a lengthy suspension once he returns.
Hernandez was found to be 31 years old instead of his listed 28 and, like Oviedo, was arrested during the offseason. According to Hoynes the fact that Hernandez agreed to re-work his contract with the Indians and gave up approximately $4.5 million in the process may keep him from a suspension if that’s deemed punishment enough.
Getting a work visa and building back his arm strength are different issues, of course, so there’s no need to pencil Hernandez/Carmona into the Indians’ rotation quite yet.
