Wednesday, December 18, 2013
[size=150]PHILLIES SIGN HERNANDEZ[/size]
The Phillies have signed right-hander Roberto Hernandez to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today. His contract includes performance and award bonuses.
Hernandez, 33, went 6-13 with a 4.89 ERA in 32 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last season and pitched at least six innings in 15 of his 24 starts. In five starts against National League teams, he went 3-1 with a 3.34 ERA. Hernandez never issued more than three walks in any of his starts and walked one or none in 15 of 24 starts.
A 2010 American League All-Star, Hernandez finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2007 when he went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA for the Cleveland Indians. Since making his major league debut in 2006, he has the fourth-best ground ball/fly ball ratio (2.41) and ground ball percentage (70.6).
Hernandez was originally signed by the Indians as an amateur free agent in 2000. For his career, he is 59-82 with a 4.67 ERA in a combined 216 games (177 starts) for the Indians (2006-12) and Rays (2013).
Hernandez will wear #27.
To make room for Hernandez on the 40-man roster, catcher Sebastian Valle was designated for assignment.
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[size=90]Press Releases provided courtesy of the Phillies, Media Relations. Thanks, guys![/size]
