Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Baltimore Orioles

Felix Hernandez has a new deal…

The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to sign the 34-year-old Venezuelan-American veteran professional baseball pitcher, nicknamed “King Félix,” to a minor league contract.

Felix Hernandez

Hernandez won an American League Cy Young Award, two ERA titles and made six MLB All-Star teams over 15 seasons with the Seattle Mariners before becoming a free agent last offseason.

Hernandez signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves and looked sharp during spring training, but he ultimately opted out of the pandemic-shortened 60-game season.

In his most recent big league action, Hernandez went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA in 2019. He hasn’t finished with an ERA under 4.00 since 2016, and his last All-Star appearance was in 2015. He has won 169 games and owns a 3.42 career ERA.

Hernandez could earn a rotation spot with the rebuilding Orioles, who have 2019 All-Star left-hander John Means locked in as a starter but not much else. They traded Alex Cobb to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, leaving Keegan AkinDean KremerJorge LopezWade LeBlancThomas Eshelman and Bruce Zimmermann as the only returning players to start at least one game in 2020.

 

Baltimore has also announced it has agreed to minor league deals with infielders Seth Mejias-Brean and Malquin Canelo, right-handers Dusten Knight, Konner Wade and Spenser Watkins, and left-hander LeBlanc.

Torres Headed to the New York Mets

Alex Torres has Mets his future…

The New York Mets have acquired the 27-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher from the San Diego Padres.

Alex Torres

In exchange for Torres, the Mets will send minor league right-hander Cory Mazzoni and a player to be named head to San Diego.

Torres, a left-hander, went 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 70 relief appearances last season. He has averaged 5.5 walks per nine innings during his MLB career.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Torres will more often be used for full innings.

“What was something of a glaring weakness I think now becomes — could become — a strength,” Alderson said.

Alderson estimated the Mets spoke with six or seven teams about acquiring left-handed relief pitching in recent days.

Torres became the first player in Major League Baseball to wear an isoBlox protective cap last season and said he was motivated to do so from watching former Tampa Bay Rays teammate Alex Cobb suffer a slight concussion after being hit by a line drive in a game in 2013.

Torres will make $522,900. He is not eligible for arbitration until after the 2016 season and is under the Mets’ control for five full seasons.