RADIO
Unable to find a guaranteed contract this offseason, veteran starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez has settled for a minor league deal with the Houston Astros that also includes an invitation to spring training. If he makes the club, he would command a $2.65 million salary in the majors.
The 34-year-old Hernandez pitched in 32 games (29 starts) last year for the Phillies and Dodgers, going 8-11 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He also put together a very unspectacular 105:73 K:BB ratio in his 164 2/3 innings of work.
In 2013, he made his return to the bigs after missing just about all of 2012 due to visa issues and a subsequent suspension from the league, and proceeded to go 6-13 with a 4.89 ERA for the Tampa Bay Rays. Previously known as Fausto Carmona, Hernandez pitched in Cleveland the prior seven seasons, registering double-digit victory campaigns on two occasions.
The Astros have been in the market for a fifth starter over the past number of months after narrowly missing out on Ryan Vogelsong, who ended up returning to San Francisco. Hernandez will join a competition headlined by Brad Peacock and Dan Straily, and it’s possible the club may add Barry Zito, whom they watched in an audition on Tuesday. If he doesn’t crack the rotation, it’s possible Hernandez could make the roster as a long reliever.
