Headlines

  • White Sox Sign Liam Hendriks
  • Mets Fire GM Jared Porter
  • Padres Acquire Joe Musgrove In 3-Team Trade
  • Kirby Yates Nearing Deal With Blue Jays
  • Nationals To Sign Jon Lester
  • Phillies Sign Archie Bradley
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Indians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • Last 100 Comments
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Mariners Move Felix Hernandez To The Bullpen

By Mark Polishuk | August 10, 2018 at 8:08am CDT

Longtime Mariners rotation fixture Felix Hernandez has lost his job in the starting five, manager Scott Servais told reporters (including MLB.com’s Greg Johns) after last night’s game.  Hernandez will be moved to the bullpen, and while Servais left open the possibility that the former ace could become a starter again this season, the focus is clearly on Hernandez getting back any of his old form.

The decision comes on the heels of one of the worst outings of Hernandez’s 14-year career; the right-hander allowed 11 runs (seven earned) over six innings against the Rangers last Tuesday.  That start underlined just what a rough season it has been for Hernandez, who has a 5.73 ERA, 7.19 K/9, 2.15 K/BB rate, and a hefty 1.5 HR/9 in 124 innings.  Advanced metrics (5.03 FIP, 4.72 xFIP, 4.66 SIERA) paint only a slightly better picture of his performance this year, while Hernandez’s 39.5% hard-hit ball rate is by far the highest of his career and well beyond his 27.7% career average.

Hernandez is a completely unknown quantity as a relief pitcher, as he has started all 398 of his career Major League games, and last appeared as a reliever when he was a 19-year-old phenom pitching at the Triple-A level in 2005.  It also remains to be seen how he’ll adjust to the role change on an emotional level — Hernandez simply told reporters “I’ve got nothing to say,” when asked to comment yesterday.

After several years as one of the game’s best and more durable pitchers, Hernandez’s effectiveness began to dip in 2015, and injuries limited him to just 240 total innings and 1.4 fWAR in 2016-17.  Aside from a brief DL stint for back soreness in July, health doesn’t seem to be the problem for Hernandez this year, as he simply may have hit a wall at age 32 after all these years and all those innings (an average of 218 IP per season from 2006-15).

Unfortunately for Hernandez and the Mariners, the bulk of the veteran righty’s downturn has mostly coincided with the length of the seven-year, $175MM extension he signed prior to the 2013 season.  Hernandez is still owed $29MM in 2019, a number that now looks like a sunk cost for the team.  Between Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Dee Gordon, and Mike Leake, Seattle has over $100MM in salary committed next season towards five players who have combined for just 5.5 fWAR in 2018 (with the slight caveat of Cano’s 80-game absence due to a PED suspension).

With Hernandez now in the pen, that leaves the quartet of James Paxton, Leake, Marco Gonzales, and Wade LeBlanc as Seattle’s top four starters.  Swingman Erasmo Ramirez has spent much of the season on the DL and is still rehabbing, so Casey Lawrence, Christian Bergman, or Robert Whalen could step in as the fifth starter on at least a temporary basis.  Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto is no stranger to the trade market, so with the M’s still battling in the wild card race, the team can’t be counted out to make a move for a starter, if they can work out a deal through the August waiver period.

Share 0 Retweet 37 Send via email0

Felix Hernandez Seattle Mariners

MLB Daily Roster Roundup: Devers, Happ, Herrera, Stripling
Main
Latest On Luke Heimlich
50 comments
newest oldest

Comments

  1. skrockij89

    2 years ago

    This should’ve happened a few starts ago.

    4 Like
    Reply
  2. rpoabr

    2 years ago

    Note to Mike Soscia, these are the decisions that managers who want to win make, regardless of veteran status.

    7 Like
    Reply
    • ThePriceWasRight

      2 years ago

      How can you blame Scosia? he is saddled with a rotation where nearly every starter has a shoulder, arm or elbow injury? Richards, shoemaker, Heaney, Skaggs, ohtani the list goes on. If anything this is a front office issue and potentially a player development issue in their system.

      As for Seattle, should be looking for pitching help. Estrada from the Blue Jays or Harvey from the Reds could help in the short term while costing virtually nothing.

      5 Like
      Reply
      • Lennon'sDad

        2 years ago

        I think his comment had to do with the use of Pujols,

        3 Like
        Reply
        • natsfan3437

          2 years ago

          I think your right that he meant pujols, even with him he still doesn’t have someone better to replace him with (as the dh)

          2 Like
          Reply
        • bigkempin

          2 years ago

          It’s a lot harder to do with Pujols as he’s owed over $90M until his contract is up. Pujols is also still borderline effective and the Angels don’t have an obvious replacement. They can’t put Ohtani there full time. The best they could do is rotate players in the DH slot for rest.

          1 Like
          Reply
        • 24TheKid

          2 years ago

          Felix is still owed 27 million next year so it’s not like his contract is nothing either.

          2 Like
          Reply
    • GarryHarrisGarryHarris

      2 years ago

      Who would he replace them with?

      Like
      Reply
    • rpoabr

      2 years ago

      Yes, Was referring to Pujols mainly, but he’s had a habit of sticking with vets too long over all his years of managing. Maybe yiu can’t bench him, but at least drop him in the order.

      Like
      Reply
  3. soxx44

    2 years ago

    It might be time for the Mariners to acquire James Shields. The larger ballpark in Seattle will certainly benefit him. Hopefully, he passes through waivers to Seattle.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • biller

      2 years ago

      replace the word James Shields with Marco Estrada.

      10 Like
      Reply
      • TrimReaper

        2 years ago

        Please make an offer for Estrada, Seattle. Toronto would appreciate it.

        Like
        Reply
        • houkenflouken

          2 years ago

          $20?

          1 Like
          Reply
    • lowtalker1

      2 years ago

      No it won’t. Shields was kicked off the padres with a comparable stadium and at night time a harder stadium to leave the yard

      James Shields should retire

      2 Like
      Reply
      • bradthebluefishbradthebluefish

        2 years ago

        Agreed. Shields’ arm is simply too old.

        Like
        Reply
  4. julyn82001

    2 years ago

    King Felix earned every paid the Mariners have paid him. True to be told, the team over used Hernandez in times where they weren’t winning – He could’ve had signed with a winning team like the Yankees – but instead decided to stay. One can only guess

    1 Like
    Reply
    • RenoChris

      2 years ago

      Great point

      Like
      Reply
    • natsfan3437

      2 years ago

      Agreed you can say they had multiple chances to win and never were able to capitalize on it the ken Griffey jr era they had a window but didn’t make the moves they needed to get over the top (they had very good players but needed more), ichiros entire mariners career, and Felix career they are just a poorly run franchise

      Like
      Reply
    • bradthebluefishbradthebluefish

      2 years ago

      Can’t overused if you’ve never played in October.

      1 Like
      Reply
  5. MrMet62

    2 years ago

    Long live the king….

    2 Like
    Reply
  6. Clark K

    2 years ago

    Let’s not act like this is the end of the King, Verlander had some troubles at around the same age and now look at him. Felix needs to use the rest of the season and offseason to realize he can’t throw like he use to and needs to change his approach

    7 Like
    Reply
    • bigdaddyhacks

      2 years ago

      Yea maybe he can go to Houston and magically return, with a little secret spin rate sauce.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • fasbal1

        2 years ago

        He may need to be introduced to a thing called pine tar…no bat needed

        Like
        Reply
    • kenneth cole

      2 years ago

      That’s a horrible comp. Hernandez has lost at least 5 MPH off his sinker and fastball while Verlander MAINTAINED velocity.

      Like
      Reply
      • houkenflouken

        2 years ago

        Verlander was down to 90-92 mph in 2014 or 2015 before re-conditioning his body. The M’s director of high performance said she could get Felix back to throwing 94.

        I have hope for Felix next season but idk about this year…

        1 Like
        Reply
    • retire21

      2 years ago

      Verlander has said that Kate Upton saved his career so if Felix is struggling maybe he should…oh, never mind.

      8 Like
      Reply
  7. Frank Waller

    2 years ago

    Marco Estrada is now healthy and just came off a dominant performance his last start. I think he pitches tonight so many eyes will be watching him. Could be a great addition. His stuff would play well in that ballpark.

    1 Like
    Reply
  8. bighiggy

    2 years ago

    Does anyone think the Mariners would trade him in the off season?

    Like
    Reply
    • lowtalker1

      2 years ago

      How much money will they eat? That’s have to eat a lot of money to get anything of value back

      Like
      Reply
    • schellis

      2 years ago

      They would need to eat all the contract and be willing to accept org filler.

      If Felix still had his stuff and was getting rocked because of poor control showing pitches or whatever sure.

      He’s lost a ton though and at this point he’s at very best a fifth starter

      Teams will take him but it will need to be at no cost no risk.

      Right now it’s like he’s 5-8 years older then he says.

      Like
      Reply
    • wayneroo

      2 years ago

      Who would want him?

      Like
      Reply
    • Kevro2139

      2 years ago

      I believe he has 10-5 rights, so he isn’t going anywhere.

      Like
      Reply
      • redsfan48

        2 years ago

        Many players waive 10-5 rights for a good opportunity

        Like
        Reply
  9. strostro

    2 years ago

    Back in 2014 Verlander’s fastball was all the way down to 89 mph. He also gave up the most runs of any starter in the MLB.

    Like
    Reply
    • cxcx

      2 years ago

      If you’re getting this info from the Bleacher Report feature, you are twisting the part about his fastball. It says his fastball was at 90 on it’s low end, which probably means it was sitting around 91 or 92 on average, which isn’t 89.

      1 Like
      Reply
    • jjd002

      2 years ago

      Guy averaged 93.1 on the FB, not 89

      1 Like
      Reply
    • flippinbats79

      2 years ago

      Took him a few years to adjust to Kate Upton. Understandable.

      2 Like
      Reply
  10. Rumncoke

    2 years ago

    Does this mean we call him Kingpen now

    2 Like
    Reply
    • jkurk_22

      2 years ago

      Lol, that’s great

      2 Like
      Reply
  11. holecamels35

    2 years ago

    Just ship him off to Texas in the offseason. Sadly that’s becoming a meme, as they’ll insert anyone with a working arm into their rotation.

    Like
    Reply
  12. fomeols

    2 years ago

    Andrew Cashner is available, would be cheap in prospect cost, and is controlled for one more year.
    He’s done well in Baltimore but has been betrayed by the hideous defense behind him, and in a huge place like Seattle he’s probably be quite successful.

    Like
    Reply
  13. Norm Chouinard

    2 years ago

    It would make a heck of a movie when the King leads the Mariners to the Championship this fall.

    Like
    Reply
  14. redsfan48

    2 years ago

    Wild idea here. How about a trade of Felix + cash for Homer Bailey? Or Felix, cash and 2 PTBNL for Bailey and Harvey?

    Like
    Reply
    • driftcat28

      2 years ago

      I doubt the Mariners would want those guys

      Like
      Reply
      • redsfan48

        2 years ago

        They showed interest in Harvey before the deadline

        Like
        Reply
  15. driftcat28

    2 years ago

    I bet if Felix has a change of scenery he gets a Verlander-esque revival. He’s not old at 32. He’s got time to figure it out

    Like
    Reply
  16. sigdawg25

    2 years ago

    it says he had no comment which probably means he’s pissed. Why can’t these guys accept the fact that they aren’t as good as they used to be and take the demotion like a man?

    Like
    Reply
  17. CubsRebsSaints

    2 years ago

    This organization missed the opportunity 4/5 years ago to trade this asset for anywhere from 3-5 very good big league prospects. The former GM just stubbornly held onto him and cost this franchise.

    Like
    Reply
  18. CubsRebsSaints

    2 years ago

    Felix for Yu?
    Maybe a minor leaguer to balance it out

    Like
    Reply
  19. thatdudetg

    2 years ago

    Hey Jerry, there’s a guy named Bartolo who’s been pretty effective and consistent.

    Like
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    White Sox Sign Liam Hendriks

    Mets Fire GM Jared Porter

    Padres Acquire Joe Musgrove In 3-Team Trade

    Kirby Yates Nearing Deal With Blue Jays

    Nationals To Sign Jon Lester

    Phillies Sign Archie Bradley

    Yankees, Corey Kluber Agree To Deal

    Yankees, Aaron Judge Avoid Arbitration

    Dodgers, Cody Bellinger Avoid Arbitration

    Yankees, DJ LeMahieu Nearing Agreement

    Recent

    Pitching Rumors: Hand, Jeffress, Anibal, Teheran

    White Sox Sign Liam Hendriks

    Diamondbacks Sign Ryan Buchter To Minors Contract

    MLBTR Chat Transcript

    Latest On Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright

    Red Sox Notes: Pedroia, Benintendi, Sale, Lester

    Mets Fire GM Jared Porter

    Padres Acquire Joe Musgrove In 3-Team Trade

    Tigers Sign Erasmo Ramirez To Minor League Contract

    Latest On George Springer, Blue Jays

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Bauer Rumors
    • Francisco Lindor Rumors
    • Kris Bryant Rumors
    • J.T. Realmuto Rumors
    • George Springer Rumors
    • DJ LeMahieu Rumors
    • Marcell Ozuna Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • 2020-21 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2020-21 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2021
    • 2021 MLB Arbitration Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Indians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version