34 Felix Hernandez SP

Hernandez is likely to pitch for a big-league team in 2021, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Multiple teams are showing interest in Hernandez, who had an excellent spring training with the Braves (1.98 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 14 strikeouts in 13.2 innings) before opting out of the 2020 season. The 34-year-old righty has been roughly a replacement level starter since 2017, but he could at least eat innings at the back of a rotation.

Hernandez will opt out of the 2020 season due to concerns regarding COVID-19, according to his agent, Wilfredo Polidor.

The veteran right-hander was included on the team's 60-player roster pool and was competing with Sean Newcomb for a spot in the starting rotation, but he'll elect to sit out the 60-game season to help protect himself and his family, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Hernandez joins the growing list of players who have opted out, including David Price, Ryan Zimmerman, Welington Castillo and Joe Ross. Kyle Wright figures to be the next man up to compete for a rotation spot for Atlanta.

Hernandez will be a part of the Braves' 60-man roster, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Hernandez signed with the Braves as a non-roster invitee in January and was competing with Sean Newcomb for a spot in the rotation during spring training, so it's no surprise that he'll be a part of the team's 60-man roster. After a solid spring, the 34-year-old could see time in the major-league rotation to begin the season as a result of expanded rosters.

General manager Alex Anthopolous said Wednesday that the Braves will limit their starters to 2-to-4 innings their first couple times through the rotation, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

After a three-month shutdown and with only a three-week secondary spring training before the start of a 60-game season, it's not much of a surprise teams will be cautious with their pitchers right out of the gate. Hernandez joined the Braves as a non-roster invitee and was enjoying a solid spring before play was suspended, but he was still in competition with Sean Newcomb for the No. 5 spot. Both pitchers could see innings through the first couple turns of the rotation as the Braves -- and teams across the league -- utilize the expanded roster to cover innings.

Hernandez gave up one run on six hits and two walks over five innings while striking out six in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

The last time the 33-year-old was a reliable fantasy asset was 2016, but Hernandez is attempting to turn back the clock in camp for Atlanta. He now sports a 1.98 ERA and 14:5 K:BB through 13.2 spring innings, and King Felix appears to be in the lead to claim one of the open rotation spots for the Braves.

Hernandez struck out two and walked one over two scoreless, hitless innings Saturday against the Orioles, Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The veteran right-hander tossed 30 pitches in his first game action for his new club. Hernandez is fighting against the next wave of Atlanta pitching prospects for a spot in the rotation in camp, a path that got a little easier with Cole Hamels (shoulder) likely to begin the season on the injured list, but the former Mariner ace will need to stay sharp this spring just to prove he still belongs in the majors -- much less in the rotation of a World Series contender.

Hernandez will start the Grapefruit League opener Saturday versus the Orioles, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The veteran right-hander is with Atlanta as a non-roster invitee and will be the first starter to take the hill in spring training. Hernandez struggled in his 15th season with the Mariners in 2019 with a 6.40 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 57:25 K:BB over 71.2 innings, and he'll need to make a good impression in spring training to have a chance at a spot in the starting rotation.

Hernandez signed with Atlanta as a non-roster invitee Monday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

The deal will pay Hernandez $1 million if he makes the big-league squad. After 15 seasons with Seattle, the veteran is nowhere near the player he was earlier in his career, when he was a perennial Cy Young candidate, winning the award once in 2010 and being selected to six All-Star games. His ERA has risen for five straight seasons, coming in at a very poor 6.40 in 15 starts last season. He'll have to pitch much better than that if he's to hold down a rotation spot for a playoff contender like the Braves.

Hernandez (1-8) took the loss against Oakland on Thursday, hurling 5.1 innings and giving up three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three.

In what was almost certainly his last outing in a Mariners uniform, Hernandez labored through 5.1 frames but held the Athletics to three runs. Unfortunately, Seattle's offense could muster only one run of support, sending King Felix to his 16th loss in his last 17 decisions. The 33-year-old finishes 2019 with a 1-8 record along with a 6.40 ERA and 1.53 WHIP -- both career worsts. However, his legacy as one of the greatest starting pitchers in Mariners history is unquestioned; he holds franchise records in career starts (418), wins (169), strikeouts (2,524) and pitching WAR (50.2).

Hernandez (1-7) allowed five runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts across five innings to take a loss against the Orioles on Friday.

Although he did pitch well in his last outing, overall, the former AL Cy Young Award winner continues to limp to the finish line. He's yielded at least five runs in four of his last eight outings, which dates back to before his injury in May. He's only made 14 starts, so those performances are hurting his numbers more than they would in a usual year. Still, it's clear Hernandez is far from the pitcher he used to be. He owns a 6.51 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, .296 batting average against and 54 strikeouts in 66.1 innings this season. He'll end this disappointing campaign with an outing at home against the Athletics on Thursday.

Hernandez's final two starts of the season are slated to unfold Friday at Baltimore and Thursday, Sept. 26 against the Athletics in Seattle, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The special significance of the latter outing would be that it will likely be Hernandez's final appearance with the Mariners after a frequently stellar 15-year run. The seven-year, $175 million pact Hernandez inked in 2013 expires at the end of the current season, and his 2019 performance makes a return to Seattle highly unlikely. Hernandez has shown occasional flashes of his signature brilliance, but ultimately, he's generated an unsightly 1-6 record along with a career-worst 6.31 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 61.1 innings (13 starts).

Hernandez didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the White Sox, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over seven innings while striking out four.

For one night at least the 33-year-old right-hander flashed something like his old form, tossing 58 of 87 pitches for strikes and taking a shutout into the seventh inning. It was Hernandez's first quality start since April 24, as injuries and ineffectiveness have led to the worst season of his career. He'll take a 6.31 ERA and 51:19 K:BB through 61.1 innings into his next outing Friday in Baltimore.

Hernandez (1-6) allowed 11 runs (seven earned) on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout across two innings while taking a loss against the Astros on Sunday.

This was an ugly outing all around for the Mariners, as the pitching staff gave up 21 runs, but Hernandez could take a bulk of the blame. The right-hander isn't the same pitcher from his All-Star seasons at 33 years old, and since returning from a lat injury in late August, he is 0-2 with a 8.04 ERA across four starts. He also gave up seven runs in each of his two outings prior to hitting the injured list. The final result is an ugly season stat line: 6.96 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Hernandez will look to get on track at home against the White Sox in his next outing Saturday.

Hernandez is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Astros.

Hernandez was only expected to get one start this week, but he'll pick up a two step after the Mariners elected to push Justus Sheffield's upcoming turn to next week in order to afford the rookie more rest. The right-hander has made three starts for the Mariners since returning last month from a lengthy stint on the injured list, tossing 13.2 innings and giving up seven runs on 10 hits and eight walks while striking out 12.

Hernandez (1-5) took the loss against the Cubs on Tuesday, pitching three innings and giving up two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five.

Hernandez surrendered a long home run to Willson Contreras in the second inning and a double to Kyle Schwarber in the third. Those were the only hits Chicago managed off the 33-year-old, yet Hernandez was lifted after three innings due to his inability to get the ball over the plate. He fired only 34 of his 70 pitches for strikes and set a season high by handing out four free passes. With the loss, Hernandez is now 1-5 this season with a 6.02 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 52.1 innings. He'll have a home matchup with Cincinnati on Tuesday in his next scheduled start.

Hernandez took a no-decision during Thursday's win over the Rangers, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three across five innings.

The right-hander surrendered a solo home run to Willie Calhoun in the first inning, followed by an RBI double to Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the second. Hernandez then loaded then bases in the fourth, allowing a run to score on a double play. The 33-year-old, who was making his second start since coming off the injured list (lat), seems to be struggling to get back into form. He'll take an unsightly 6.02 ERA and 1.42 WHIP into a Tuesday matchup against the Cubs in Chicago.

Hernandez pitched 5.2 innings in his return from a long layoff, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four. He did not factor in the decision in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Blue Jays.

Unfortunately for Hernandez, two of the three hits he surrendered left the yard -- third-inning solo shots by Teoscar Hernandez and Bo Bichette. Hernandez threw 54 of his 88 pitches for strikes. After missing three-plus months with a lat injury, Hernandez owns a 6.09 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with a 38:11 K:BB in 44.1 innings this year. He'll take a 1-4 record into his next start versus the Rangers on Thursday.

Hernandez (lat) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Saturday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Hernandez will start Saturday against the Blue Jays, taking the mound in a major-league game for the first time since May 11. He most recently worked three innings for Triple-A Tacoma in a rehab outing, throwing 69 pitches in the process. While he may not work deep into the game, he also shouldn't face major restrictions.

The Mariners confirmed that Hernandez (lat) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday against the Blue Jays, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Hernandez will return to the active roster for the first time since mid-May after wrapping up his four-start minor-league rehab assignment with a strong showing Monday. The right-hander worked three innings (69 pitches) for Triple-A Tacoma, ceding one run on three hits and four walks while striking out five. The Mariners likely won't plan on having Hernandez hit the 100-pitch threshold in his first outing back from the IL, but he shouldn't face any further workload restrictions in the outings that follow. Hernandez went 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA over eight starts with the big club before hitting the shelf.

Hernandez (lat) allowed an earned run on four hits, three walks and a wild pitch over three-plus innings in Triple-A Tacoma's win over Salt Lake on Monday. He struck out five.

Hernandez worked up to 69 pitches in what is slated to be his final rehab appearance. That came just one pitch short of the 70-pitch threshold that served as his goal, although it's worth noting that workload was ideally supposed to be spread over five innings. Some control issues cut Hernandez's outing short, but Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports Hernandez's fastball sat in the high 80s and topped out at 91 mph. The veteran right-hander is expected to be activated in time to start Saturday's game against the Blue Jays after generating a 3.38 ERA across 13.1 innings over five rehab starts overall.