The Astros have signed Livan Hernandez to a minor league deal, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. The Praver/Shapiro client would provide Houston with rotation depth if he makes the team out of Spring Training.
Hernandez posted a 4.47 ERA with 5.1 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 42.4% ground ball rate in 175 1/3 innings for the 2011 Nationals. The 36-year-old has averaged 216 innings and a 4.44 ERA since 1998, his first full season as a big league starter, and has completed at least 175 innings in each of the past 14 seasons. He earned $1.25MM in 2011, but didn't obtain guaranteed money from the Astros.
This made me laugh out loud. I’m not sure why.
Definition of a workhorse. Meaning that he pitches a lot of innings, and kind of looks like a horse.
He’ll end up with Washington before season’s end somehow…
As a Nats fan, godspeed Livo. He’s kind of a funny guy to have on your team. Hope his housing stuff gets figured out.
Hard to believe he is only 36, feels like he has been around forever. Dude loves playing and just won’t go away, kinda have to respect that. This is not the first time he has signed a minor league deal, I expect him to claw his way back to the bigs sometime this season
Do you really think he is 36? From Cuba and the half-brother of El Duque. C’mon son!
I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in his early 40’s (or late 80’s)
Nationals fans appreciate the years Livan spent in the Nations capital and seeing his mid-60’s curve ball floater is one of the funniest things ever
Best of luck in Houston, Livan
While we’re happy the Nats are finally good enough NOT to need him, Livo will be missed in DC. He’s been a big part of the franchise’s early years in DC and I hope he’ll be remembered for that.
I love how most people are laughing at this because it’s a signing by the Astros… If the Yankees signed this guy, most comments would be, “Low risk! High reward! Not bad for a minor league deal! I like it!” But since it’s the Astros, you guys are laughing at him and the team.
Grow up. So many immature people on this site (which has what kept me from posting the past few months).
was this meant to be pre-emptive or….? maybe you should read the actual comments first
Actually if the Yankees signed Livan we would be busting their chops even more.
See Bartolo Colon last year.
hey no offense but the astros r no sought the worst team in the mlb and they barely have talent.
“barely have talent”. Does it take one to know one?
Livan wears his war wound like a crown..
Livo was awesome for Nats. He just chews up innings. And he loves to hit. Expect a .275 and 3 HR too! i agree seeing his 60 MPH stuff is one of the highlights and seeing players miss or pound it into their foot is funny. Some days are dreadful but Predictions. 9-15 4.89 ERA, 204 IP and a solid veteran to help Houston get ready for the future. Glad to see he is still in MLB
Keith Law turned down a job with the Astros, but they still wanted to hire someone obsessed with food.
That probably wasn’t a factor in the Astros decision, but it may have influenced Livan’s decision. Houston is known as one of the top cities for food.
pretty smart move by the Astros. Lyles could use some innings at AAA being only 21, and they need an inning eater to save the very young bullpen workload especially if/when Wandy gets traded. If he does well, they can trade him at the all star break.
I don’t think he will get lit up at MMP. He has a very high ground ball rate. The Astros infielders don’t field so good though, so this could bring out a whole new set of problems though.
42% GB is worse than league average.
I cannot wait for Astros-Rockies. Livan vs. Moyer. Retro Night.
Moyer at 49 and Livan’s real age is probably around there too.
Ever wondered why Livan always wears the No. 61?
Why do I feel like the Yankees or Red Sox should have explored signing Livan?
Worth almost 2 WAR and can’t get a major league deal.
I’m pretty surprised as well that no one gave him a major league deal. I can think of at least a half dozen teams that could use him as somehting between a #3 and #5 starter. Obviously he would have likely come on the cheap too.
Why is he worse than Aaron Harang again? LOL dodgers again
I like this move for the Astros. I also think that Livan is going to make a very good pitching coach someday. Dude has nine lives; anyone that can have any kind of success with the stuff he’s got left has to know pitching. He just has to.
He may be a pitching coach this year(at least unofficially). I think he’d make a better pitching coach than the Astros’ current pitching coach(Doug Brocail).
Can’t believe anyone is badmouthing this signing. Minor league deal for a guy who has been a league-average starter the last few years? Any team in baseball should be happy with that.
More than a few teams should have been happy digning him to a real contract for the bigs. This is just one of those head-scratchers.
Probably only headed to the Astros to mentor some of the younger pitchers on the staff!
Wow i thought he retired?
Well I would say that’s a pretty good deal. The only time I watched him pitch last year he had a completely dominating game. Won the game with his pitching, batting, and base running. He picked off a guys, it really was one of the best performances from a pitcher that I had ever seen.
are you sure?
He throws too slow for anyone to hit the ball far.
In nine career starts at Minute Maid, Livan is 6-2, with a 3.98 ERA and one complete game. Small sample size, sure, but certainly no indication that he’s “gonna get lit up” in Houston because of the park.
Who says this is his last stop?
347 Major Leaguers are not so sure about that.
I wonder if that’s why the Rockies signed Jamie Moyer?
He was also playing AGAINST the Astros who haven’t really been known for a heavy offensive team.
Except for Bagwell, Biggio and Berkman.
The Killer B’s
And Kent, Beltran, Ensberg, Hidalgo and Lane at some point or another in the past 6-7 years.
Livan is awesome but sadly fish dnt need him. i liv in miami and I’m a fish fan and from all their signings we dnt need him but good luck to him
Not to mention the guy is able to throw what seems like 165 pitches per game without fatiguing. I’m with you, I hope he makes the roster.
I think it all goes back to when Livan actually did have “stuff”. Even back then he didn’t rely on his stuff to get people out. What he DID do was to have faith/trust his stuff and pitched to the situation. He let his location, batter greed, and pitch selection do the work.
I’ll still never figure out how his arm just never seems to tire though.
And Alou and Caminiti going back a little further.
…it’s a joke.