Felix Hernandez Opts Out Of 2020 Season – MLB Trade Rumors

That said, theres no danger to a team in taking a flier on Hernandez on a small league contract and seeing what he has next spring.

Felix Hernandez is the most recent gamer who has decided against taking part in the 2020 season, as his representative Wilfredo Polidor tweeted this night. The longtime Mariners ace and former AL Cy Young Award winner signed a minors deal with the Braves in January, and was called on Atlantas preliminary 60-man player pool.

In Hernandezs case, he will be foregoing what was forming up as an intriguing semi-comeback effort back in Spring Training. The right-hander has fought with both injuries and ineffectiveness over the last three seasons, including a 6.40 ERA over 71 2/3 innings in 2019. Departing Seattle after 15 years, Hernandez caught on with the Braves and published a 1.98 ERA over 13 2/3 frames of Spring Training work, developing some excitement that “King Felix” had a bounce-back performance left in the tank.

Concerns over the COVID-19 crisis prompted Hernandezs decision, as has been the common theme among other gamers (David Price, Ian Desmond, Joe Ross, Tyson Ross, Mike Leake, Ryan Zimmerman, and Welington Castillo) who have actually likewise declined to play in the shortened 2020 season. That list will definitely grow in the coming days and weeks as more players consider their personal situations and health scenarios around the United States.

Hernandez was among the favorites for the rotation area exposed by Cole Hamels injury, though the postponed start to the 2020 season has actually indicated that Hamels will likely be offered by the brand-new Opening Day (predicted for July 23). This left just the fifth starter job open, with Kyle Wright and Sean Newcomb in competition with Hernandez. Its possible the Braves might sign up with other groups in deploying a six-man rotation or more innovative methods like openers or piggybacked starters in order to keep everyone fresh, though they will have one less option on hand with Hernandez now unavailable.