The Cleveland Guardians designated reliever Carlos Hernandez for assignment Friday, a sudden roster move that came hours before they were set to open a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
The club entered the weekend after a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night at Progressive Field.
Tim Stebbins of MLB.com wrote: “Guardians moves: Colin Holderman to the 15-day IL Slade Cecconi activated off the 15-day IL Austin Peterson recalled from Columbus Carlos Hernández DFA.”
Hernandez had appeared in two games for Cleveland this season and posted an 0-0 record with a 6.00 ERA.
The 29-year-old right-hander was only recently added back to the major league roster.
Stebbins wrote (on September 1): “The Guardians recalled Daniel Schneemann from Columbus and selected reliever Carlos Hernández, as part of today’s active roster expansion. 40-man full.”
That September 1 transaction filled the 40-man roster as teams expanded their active lists.Hernandez is in his seventh major league season.
He has previously pitched for the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers in addition to the Guardians.
Across 193 career big-league games he owns an 8-19 record and a 5.14 ERA.
Whether another club claims him off waivers before the season ends remains to be seen. There is also a possibility he could return to the Guardians organization at Triple-A Columbus if he clears waivers.
Cleveland sits at 70-70 after 140 games and holds second place in the American League Central. The Guardians have gone 6-4 over their last 10 contests. They are 33-38 in 71 home games this year.
After wrapping up the Tigers series, Cleveland travels to Baltimore to face the Orioles on Monday night at Camden Yards.
The corresponding roster moves also sent right-hander Colin Holderman to the 15-day injured list, activated Slade Cecconi from the 15-day injured list and recalled Austin Peterson from Triple-A.
Manager Stephen Vogt’s club is looking to stay in the mix in a competitive division as September play continues.
Hernandez’s brief latest stint with Cleveland did not produce the results the team needed from the bullpen. The timing of the designation, coming just days after he was selected from the minors, underscores how quickly roster decisions can shift late in the season.
Teams often use the designation-for-assignment process to create space while giving a player a chance to be claimed by another organization.
For now, Hernandez’s immediate future depends on whether a club sees value in his experience as a veteran reliever.
The Guardians, meanwhile, turn their attention to a Tigers team that sits in the same division and could affect Cleveland’s standing with each remaining series.
