BALTIMORE – Baltimore Orioles have reached an agreement with veteran pitcher Felix Hernandez, based on a minor league contract.
Hernandez won an American Cy Young League award, two ERA titles and formed six All-Star teams in 15 seasons with the Seattle Mariners before becoming a free agent last season.
The 34-year-old signed a minor league contract with Atlanta and looked good during spring training, but eventually gave up the 60-game season shortened by the pandemic.
In the most recent major league action, Hernandez won 1-8 with 6.40 ERA in 2019. He did not finish with an ERA below 4.00 in 2016, and his last All-Star appearance was in 2015. He won 169 games and a 3.42 RBI.
Hernandez could win a place in rotation with the Reconstruction Orioles, who have the 2019 All-Star John Means as their owner, but not much.
They traded Alex Cobb for the Angels on Tuesday, leaving Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer, Jorge Lopez, Wade LeBlanc, Thomas Eshelman and Bruce Zimmermann as the only players to return to at least one game in 2020.
Baltimore also announced Wednesday that it has agreed minor league deals with fielders Seth Mejias-Brean and Malquin Canelo, right-hander Dusten Knight, Konner Wade and Spenser Watkins and left-back LeBlanc.