The Royals have released Ramon Hernandez at the catcher's request, tweets Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star. Hernandez had already opted out of his contract, so the move is really a formality.
Hernandez did not want to play in the minors and will likely hang up his spikes if he is unable to find an MLB job, tweets Ken Rosethal of FOX Sports.
Catcher Ramon Hernandez will opt out of his minor league contract with the Royals, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Hernandez, however, will remain with the team to work out, but can leave for another MLB job with no compensation due the Royals.
Hernandez, who signed in January to compete with Brett Hayes and Francisco Pena to be Salvador Perez's backup, batted just .208/.291/.438 in a career-low 55 plate appearances with the Dodgers in 2013, but the 37-year-old did hit three home runs showing he still has some pop left in his bat. The Eric Goldschmidt client is a lifetime .263/.327/.417 hitter in parts of 15 Major League seasons with the Athletics, Padres, Orioles, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers.
The Royals have signed catcher Ramon Hernandez to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
Hernandez, 37, picked up a career-low 55 plate appearances with the Dodgers in 2013 and batted just .208/.291/.438. He did belt three homers in that time, showing that he still has some pop left in his bat. The Eric Goldschmidt client is a lifetime .263/.327/.417 hitter in parts of 15 Major League seasons with the Athletics, Padres, Orioles, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers.
In addition to starter Salvador Perez, the Royals already have a pair of catchers on their 40-man roster in Brett Hayes and Francisco Pena. Hernandez will compete with those two for a backup role in Kansas City.
The Blue Jays released catcher Ramon Hernandez, according to a Buffalo Bisons press release.
Hernandez was designated for assignment by the Rockies in March, then traded to the Dodgers, and then designated by the Dodgers and released in June. The Blue Jays inked him to a minor league deal, but he appeared in only five games for the Bisons.
Hernandez, 37, was an All-Star with the Athletics in 2003. With 169 career home runs, he ranks eighth all-time among Venezuelans. Among those who have caught at least 1,000 games, Hernandez's home run total ranks 22nd all-time.
The Blue Jays have signed catcher Ramon Hernandez to a minor league deal, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet (via Twitter). The Eric Goldschmidt client was released by the Dodgers on June 22nd after being designated for assignment.
The Dodgers acquired the 37-year-old from the Rockies back in April in exchange for Aaron Harang. The backstop saw only 55 plate appearances for Los Angeles, batting .208/.291/.438. In 5,701 Major League plate appearances with the A's, Padres, Orioles, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers, Hernandez is a .263/.327/.417 hitter.
The Dodgers have released catcher Ramon Hernandez according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). Hernandez had been designated for assignment on June 14 to clear a roster spot for A.J. Ellis.
The Dodgers acquired the veteran backstop from the Rockies on April 6 in exchange for Aaron Harang. The 37-year-old saw only 55 plate appearances for Los Angeles, batting .208/.291/.438.
In 5701 Major League plate appearances with the A's, Padres, Orioles, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers, Hernandez is a .263/.327/.417 hitter. The Eric Goldschmidt client was in the final season of a 2-year, $6.5MM contract he signed with the Rockies prior to 2012.
The Dodgers have designated Ramon Hernandez for assignment, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). The move allows the Dodgers to re-instate A.J. Ellis from the disabled list and keep Tim Federowicz on board as a backup.
The 37-year-old Hernandez came to the Dodgers on April 6 in exchange for Aaron Harang, who had been designated for assignment himself. The veteran backstop saw only 55 plate appearances for Los Angeles, batting .208/.291/.438. He did hit three homers and throw out two of the six potential base stealers he was faced with.
In parts of 15 Major League seasons between the A's, Padres, Orioles, Reds, Rockies and Dodgers, Hernandez is a .263/.327/.417 hitter. He is currently in the final year of a two-year, $6.5MM deal he signed with the Rockies in the 2011-12 offseason. Hernandez has just a .628 OPS and eight homers in 69 games over the life of that deal.
Two division rivals were able to turn their surpluses into useful parts with a trade this afternoon. The Dodgers will receive catcher Ramon Hernandez with starter Aaron Harang and $4.25MM heading to Colorado.
However, Harang probably won't stay in Colorado for long. Soon after the deal, the Rockies announced that they designated the hurler for assignment. They'll look to find a taker for him over the next ten days and unload his contract.
The right-hander was one of the club's surplus starters and was less-than-thrilled about having to come out of the bullpen in 2013. The veteran posted a 3.61 ERA for the Dodgers last season with 6.6 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 across 179 2/3 innings of work. The Rockies already are hearing from teams with interest in Harang and the Red Sox are one possibility as they look for a John Lackey replacement.
Harang signed a backloaded two-year, $12MM deal prior to the 2012 season. The deal paid him $3MM last year and $7MM this year with a $2MM buyout if his mutual option for 2014 is not exercised. If his option is triggered, it could be worth $7MM-$8MM depending on his performance. With the $2MM buyout off of the Dodgers' books, they'll wind up saving some money in luxury tax penalties next season.
The Rockies designated Hernandez for assignment just prior to Opening Day. The catcher posted a .217/.247/.353 batting line in 184 at bats in 2012. Colorado had a surplus of catchers and Hernandez was the odd man out after Yorvit Torrealba beat him out for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The Rockies inked the backstop to a two-year, $6.4MM deal after the 2011 season. With the Dodgers, Hernandez can be expected to serve as added support for A.J. Ellis along with current understudy Tim Federowicz.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers still have a pair of extra starters in Chris Capuano and Ted Lilly. Unlike Harang, Capuano has said that he is comfortable with serving as a reliever for the overloaded Dodgers. General Manager Ned Colletti also had said that he enjoys having rotation depth, you can expect both pitchers to attract interest from clubs in need of a starter.
Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter) first reported that Hernandez was traded to the Dodgers. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) reported that Harang was going to the Rockies in the deal along with the cash considerations. Additional details provided by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
FRIDAY: The Rockies tweet that they have officially designated Hernandez and pitcher Will Harris for assignment. They have also selected the contracts of Torrealba and pitcher Chris Volstad. Harris appeared in 17 2/3 innings for the Rockies in 2012, posting an 8.15 ERA, 9.7 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.
THURSDAY: The Rockies will designate catcher Ramon Hernandez for assignment, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter). Yorvit Torrealba will serve as the backup to Wilin Rosario, Renck tweets.
The Rockies signed Hernandez to a two-year, $6.4MM contract following the 2011 season. He hit .217/.247/.353 in 184 at bats with Colorado in 2012. The Rockies had been rumored to be trying to trade him.
TUESDAY, 9:50am: A release is possible for Hernandez, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, since the Rockies might not find a taker.
MONDAY, 7:30pm: All signs point to Yorvit Torrealba making the Rockies' roster and Ramon Hernandez being traded, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Sulia link). Renck feels that there will be resolution of the situation no later than Thursday — the last game of Spring Training.
Torrealba, 34, batted .227/.293/.330 with four homers over the course of 218 plate appearances between the Rangers, Blue Jays and Brewers in 2012. He caught 22 percent of potential base-stealers, but his career mark of 30 percent is much stronger. Torrealba signed a minor league contract with the Rockies in January.
The 36-year-old Hernandez missed more than two months of action last season due to hamstring and hand injuries and posted a meager .217/.247/.353 batting line with five homers as a result. He's set to earn $3.2MM as he enters the second year of a two-year, $6.5MM contract he signed prior to the 2012 season. Like Torrealba, he's caught 30 perecent of potential base-stealers throughout his career, but had a down-season in that area last year (25 percent).
Regardless of which catcher makes the roster, he will playing second fiddle to sophomore powerhouse Wilin Rosario. The 24-year-old Rosario hit .270/.312/.530 with 28 homers in just 426 plate appearances last season and finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
