12:55pm: Hernandez is expected to be added directly to the Angels’ active roster, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo. There’s a vacant 40-man spot on the club’s roster already, so the Angels will only need to make a 25-man roster move to accommodate him.
12:19pm: The Angels announced on Monday that they’ve acquired right-hander David Hernandez from the Braves in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. Hernandez isn’t on the 40-man roster, but the veteran righty could conceivably join the Halos’ Major League club in the near future to add some depth to a relief corps that has lost Cam Bedrosian, Andrew Bailey, Huston Street and Mike Morin to injuries already in 2017.
[Related: Updated Los Angeles Angels Depth Chart]
Hernandez, 32 next month, spent the 2016 season with the Phillies, where he logged a 3.84 ERA with 9.9 K/9 against 4.0 BB/9 with a 37.3 percent ground-ball rate in 72 2/3 innings. While he opened the season as the closer in Philly last year, he quickly relinquished the role following an ugly start to the year. Hernandez rebounded to finish the year with useful numbers, and while his career 4.10 ERA isn’t necessarily impressive, he’s a relatively hard-thrower (average 94 mph fastball in 2016) that has punched out 9.1 hitters per nine innings pitched in parts of seven Major League seasons. Hernandez is off to a strong start to the season in Triple-A, where he’s yielded just one run on four hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in eight innings of work.
While Bedrosian’s injury seems likely to be rather short-term in nature, Street won’t return until at least June, and it’s not yet known how long Bailey will be out. With all of the injuries on the roster, the Halos currently have a patchwork bullpen consisting of Bud Norris, Yusmeiro Petit, Blake Parker, Brooks Pounders, Deolis Guerra and lefty Jose Alvarez.
Not sure why the Braves never gave him a chance. Why sign him in the first place
Great move by the Braves. Their bullpen right now is one of the best in baseball right now, so trading spare parts is smart.
I know detecting sarcasm in text can be difficult, but this time I’m certain of it.
I think you are being sarcastic opethsdeliverance. The bullpen for Atlanta has already cost them a few games. Krol and Roe in particular have been pitiful. Vizcaino was horrible yesterday and Johnson has been far from perfect. I would have thought that Hernandez was close to replacing someone at least.
I guess I’ve got little choice but to trust the Braves to act in their best long term interests at least.
They have a plethora of options waiting in the wings but i would have much rather seen Hernandez given a chance than someone like Motte. The young guys (Dirks, Minter, Jackson, Morris) could be up come August and September. Also, still have Cabrera waiting. It was now or never for Hernandez and I guess they chose never
Baseball10 you are right in that the braves do have many options (although as you alluded most will be later rather than sooner). Morris especially has been quite effective in the minors so far.
The relievers at the major league level so far have just not been effective for the most part.
I just dont understand the point in trading him now? Toss him in your pen and see if he can find some magic and trade him at the deadline. It just seems like this return is (likely) so minimal that it’s kind of pointless?
May 1st opt-out by Hernandez. If they saw they were not going to add him to the roster, which it looks as if they weren’t, trade him now for something rather than bolting next week. They literally just got something for nothing, if the sequencing was correct.
Trying to decide if this is sarcasm or not…
Braves have the 4th worst bullpen in baseball. Not sure where that came from! Im sure the Braves were not convinced of his services or they wouldnt have traded him. Motte has been killing it at Gwinett so im sure he will be getting called up soon.
Braves have the 4th worst bullpen in baseball. Not sure where that came from or what your smoking! Im sure the Braves were not convinced of his services or they wouldnt have traded him. Motte has been killing it at Gwinett so im sure he will be getting called up soon.
I wonder those who disliked my comment disliked it because they disagree with the statement or they thought i was being serious? I’m sure both!
that Braves bullpen though…
Should have never signed Dickey and spent that $10M on bullpen help and just used Wisler/Blair/Collmenter/etc as 5th starter. Not much difference in those guys and Dickey, yet there is a huge difference in their current bullpen arms and decent ones that could have been had over the offseason.
They’re here to eat innings while the younger guys develop more. Blair needs A LOT more work. Wisler as well.
Have there always been the constant roster changeover like now or is because of social media today, it’s noticed more. I just seem to remember early in the year, teams always getting their guy three waivers and then optioning the player to the minors. Now it seems like everyone is spinning the roulette wheel, hoping the player they pick up can be better than who they usually have to then release.
It has nothing to do with social media. Bullpen usage has changed because of the ridiculous emphasis on the 100 pitch count for starting pitchers. Plus there are more pitching injuries happening and teams have to play a bullpen lottery. The Rangers have gotten lucky with this the last two seasons. But now we’re also seeing teams bringing in more swing men to save their bullpens.
Good point. Glad I don’t play fantasy. must drive those that do nuts.
I tried it and after a few days I gave up. Fantasy football is way better because Tuesday comes around and you can just add overlooked players from free agency to shore up your bench or fill a spot from injury and then you’re done until Sunday.
The Braves have the 4th worst bullpen in MLB. Im sure they would have never traded him if they think he could help them out. Motte has been killing it at Gwinett look for a call up soon.
My Lord, we got it the first two times
NickinAtl the Braves have the 4th worst bullpen in baseball. Im sure they would of never traded him if they think he could of helped them. Motte has been killing it at Gwinett so im sure he will be getting called up soon.
Your repetitive comments don’t get rave reviews.
You are officially Pete O’Brien-ed.
I cannot understand why the Angels have no interest in Doug Fister.
He’s washed up.
“He’s washed up.”
Who cares about his hygiene? Can he pitch, is what matters.
A big change is also in bullpen usage. Other than the eighth and ninth inning guys, relievers used to be able to pitch 2 or 3 innings. Now everyone is a one inning guy, which made Andrew Miller look even more of a marvel.