The Seattle Mariners made several roster adjustments on Thursday, including the decision to designate right-handed pitcher Jonathan Hernandez for assignment.
Hernandez, who had only joined the Mariners a week prior after being designated by the Texas Rangers, found himself back on the waiver wire after a short stint with the team. During his brief time with Seattle, Hernandez pitched three games, showing promise in his first two outings with scoreless innings. However, his third appearance was less successful, as he allowed three earned runs in just a third of an inning during a 6-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Given that Hernandez is out of minor league options, the Mariners were compelled to designate him to make room for right-hander Eduard Bazardo, who was called up from Triple-A Tacoma. If Hernandez clears waivers, he could be outrighted off the 40-man roster, but he lacks the service time to reject the assignment and opt for free agency.
This season, Hernandez has struggled with a 5.40 ERA over 43 1/3 innings, coupled with a concerning 14.6% walk rate, one of the highest in the league. Despite his recent challenges, Hernandez’s past success, including a 2.93 ERA across the 2020 and 2022 seasons with Texas, may still attract interest from other teams looking to bolster their bullpen.
With arbitration control through 2026 and a relatively low salary, Hernandez could be a low-risk acquisition for a team willing to gamble on a turnaround.
