Livan Hernandez

D’Backs Search For Pitching

By Tim Dierkes | November 12, 2009 at 3:28pm CDT

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic brings home a bunch of Diamondbacks hot stove buzz from the GM Meetings…

The Diamondbacks would have to give up their second-round pick if they sign a Type A free agent who turned down arbitration. GM Josh Byrnes told Piecoro he'd consider it if the player came at a discount. You can check our free agent list to see all the types.
Piecoro wouldn't be surprised to see Livan Hernandez return as the D'Backs' fifth starter. He wouldn't be the main rotation pickup; the bigger targets are probably Randy Wolf, Jason Marquis, and Brad Penny.
Piecoro can't find a team that would be able to send the D'Backs a pitcher for catcher Chris Snyder. The Royals, Mets, Reds, Brewers, and Astros don't fit, in Piecoro's opinion, while the Blue Jays already nixed a deal. The Rays, Nationals, Mariners, and Giants may also be looking for a catcher, but they might not match up either.
The D'Backs would like to bring back arbitration-eligible infielder Augie Ojeda.

Diamondbacks Considering Hernandez

By Mark Polishuk | November 10, 2009 at 6:23pm CDT

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic hears that the Diamondbacks are considering free agent right-hander Livan Hernandez. The 35-year-old posted a 5.44 ERA in 31 starts with the Mets and Nationals last season, but as Piecoro notes, Hernandez's primary role in Arizona would be to serve as both a positive clubhouse influence and to eat some innings at the back of the rotation.

If Hernandez did sign, he would be joining his fifth different team in three years. It would also be his second stint in the desert — Hernandez made 43 starts for Arizona over the 2006 and 2007 seasons, delivering a 4.64 ERA overall and throwing the second-highest number of innings (204.1) of any D-Backs pitcher on the 2007 club.

Piecoro said that the team was impressed by Hernandez's work with Miguel Montero, and bringing back Montero's old mentor could have a positive effect on the young catcher as he goes into 2010 as the incumbent starter behind the plate.

Discussion: Livan Hernandez

By Howard Megdal | November 3, 2009 at 9:15pm CDT

According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com's Twitter page, "Livan Hernandez's agent says his client 'would be interested in returning to the Nationals.'"

Hernandez's agent said the Nationals also like Hernandez.

It does raise the question: should they?

Hernandez got off to a strong start with the Mets in 2009, but was released after tossing 135 innings with a 5.47 ERA. Picked up by Washington, his ERA was only slightly better, at 5.36.

Over the past two seasons, Hernandez has thrown 363 2/3 innings- and has a 5.74 ERA to show for it.

On the plus side, he eats innings- hit-filled, run-scoring innings.

So would you bring him in? Is the ability to stay healthy valuable enough to make up for his performance?

Odds & Ends: Byrd, Livan, Marlins

By Mike Axisa | September 26, 2009 at 9:02pm CDT

A couple of links to help you start off your Saturday night…

Rangers' manager Ron Washington wants to see the team bring back Marlon Byrd next year, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Bryd has said he wants to return to the team next year, but Sullivan says it's uncertain if Texas will be able to re-sign him, presumably because of their uncertain financial situation.
According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Livan Hernandez "believes he has six years left in his baseball career and wants those years to be with the Nationals." Livan's been a below league average pitcher for four years now, but if he can stick around for another six years, more power to him.
Marlins' closer Leo Nunez figures to stick around next year, even though he'll earn a hefty raise in arbitration says Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald. The bigger question might be what to do with ex-closer Matt Lindstrom, who will also be arbitration eligible for the first time. Lindstrom has a 5.79 ERA and has battled injuries this season.

Nats Look To Add At Least Two Starters For 2010

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 11, 2009 at 12:26pm CDT

We knew the Nationals would be looking for a starting pitcher this winter, but Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post now reports that they hope to add at least two starters by next season. One figures to be a "bargain basement" type, perhaps Livan Hernandez. Boswell says the second pitcher will likely be the sort of arm who would fit into the middle of a good team's rotation.

Doug Davis and Jon Garland could both fit for the Nationals, and there are many more names to consider in this year's crop of free agent pitchers. It's a long list, but Nats GM Mike Rizzo says he's "going to get one of them."

Perrotto’s Latest: Twins, Damon, Franklin, Penny, Dye

By Nat Boyle | August 30, 2009 at 12:08pm CDT

John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus brings us his latest from around the leagues:

When they come off the DL, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins will be used in relief. So, the Twins are hoping to add a starter who can pitch in the playoffs. This means they have until tomorrow at midnight to do so.
The Yankees would like to re-sign Johnny Damon to a one year deal and give Austin Jackson a second year to develop at Triple-A, while pursuing Matt Holliday and Jason Bay in the offseason.
The Marlins and Giants are frontrunners to land Brad Penny.
The Cardinals expect to exercise Ryan Franklin’s $2.75MM club option and then sign an extension with their closer for 2011.
The Royals want to extend G.M. Dayton Moore who is signed through 2010.
Perrotto says the Cubs are likely to deal Milton Bradley this winter, even if it means eating a large portion of the $21MM owed to him through 2011.
Jermaine Dye will more than likely not see his $12MM option exercised by the White Sox after a dip in production in tandem with the salary demands of Alex Rios and Jake Peavy.
For the postseason, the Dodgers are seeking “a left-handed bat with power” for their bench.
The Nats are auditioning Livan Hernandez as a veteran innings eater for 2010.
The Diamondbacks may non-tender Conor Jackson.
Brewers manager Ken Macha said G.M. Doug Melvin “scoured the area for pitching” before the deadline but was unable to add a starter because he refused to trade Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar.
After making seven trades this year, the Pirates are the youngest team in the MLB.

Hernandez Hopes To Stay In Washington

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 27, 2009 at 4:18pm CDT

The Nationals just signed Livan Hernandez and now that he's back in Washington, he wants to stay. Hernandez tells Chico Harlan of the Washington Post that he would consider returning to the Nats when he becomes a free agent after the season.

"That's what I want. I'd love to be here next year," Hernandez said. "It's something I've been waiting for, coming to D.C., the last three years."

The Nats are searching for veteran arms to prepare themselves for next year. Hernandez could be a fit, but he has struggled since 2005, when he says he pitched through constant pain to compete. Through 2005, Hernandez had a 4.11 ERA and was striking out 6.1 batters per nine innings. Since then, his strikeout rate has fallen, his homer rate has risen and he has pitched to an ERA of 5.26.

Nationals Sign Livan Hernandez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 25, 2009 at 10:49pm CDT

Livan Hernandez will return to the Nationals after a three-year absence. The club signed Hernandez to a Major League deal, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, so the Cuban righty returns to the organization that first acquired him more than six years ago. The Expos traded for Hernandez in 2003 and he stayed with the organization until they traded him to the D'Backs in 2006.

Hernandez has since played for three more teams, including the Mets, who released him last week. He has allowed 164 hits and 51 walks in 135 innings this year, striking out 75.

Mets Release Livan Hernandez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 20, 2009 at 4:36pm CDT

4:36pm: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse suggests via Twitter that the Mets could save as much as $550k by releasing Hernandez, presumably because they won't have to pay him incentives.

3:02pm: The Mets released Livan Hernandez to make room for Billy Wagner, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. Hernandez signed with the Mets last offseason for $1MM plus incentives, and took the hill 23 times this year. His numbers aren't impressive, but they're not much different than expected; in 135 innings he allowed 164 hits and walked 51, striking out 75 batters.

Odds And Ends: Garcia, Astros, Reds

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 20, 2009 at 3:43pm CDT

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