The offseason hot stove is beginning to heat up with significant roster movements across the league. In recent developments, a couple of veteran right-handers have officially decided to test the open market.
Both pitchers spent the past year within the Cleveland Guardians organization. They are now looking for fresh starts ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Evaluating Connor Brogdon’s Difficult Season
The Numbers Behind the Struggles
Connor Brogdon originally joined the Cleveland franchise on a notable major league contract last winter. Unfortunately, he struggled to maintain a consistent roster spot throughout the grueling 162-game schedule.
During his time on the mound, he made 16 relief appearances for the big league club. He ultimately posted a 5.06 ERA over 16 innings of work.
While he did a solid job limiting free passes by walking only three batters, long balls proved problematic. Giving up five home runs heavily contributed to his eventual demotion and subsequent outrighting.
Things did not go much better down on the farm at the Triple-A level. Brogdon logged an elevated 6.35 ERA across 11 1/3 frames.
Now, the veteran reliever is hitting free agency in search of a new home. Teams needing bullpen depth will evaluate whether he can recapture his past form.
Scouts and executives will surely comb through his metrics to see what went wrong. Several clubs might offer him a minor league invite to prove his worth in spring training.
Carlos Hernández Seeks a Fresh Start
Overcoming Adversity and Injury
Carlos Hernández signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland organization last November looking for stability. However, his path was immediately derailed by severe injuries sustained in a scary January car crash.
The accident forced him to miss the entire first half of the baseball season. His incredible determination allowed him to battle back through a rigorous rehab process.
He finally earned a late-season call-up to the majors in the month of September. Hernández allowed two earned runs in three innings across two appearances before being outrighted.
He elected free agency after previously pitching for multiple other major league organizations throughout his career. This experience gives potential suitors a multi-year track record to evaluate.
Despite possessing a blazing 98 mph fastball, Hernández holds a career 5.14 ERA across 302 2/3 major league innings. Raw velocity always plays well in the modern game, which should keep him on the radar of pitching coaches.
The open market presents a clean slate for both hurlers as they prepare for next year. Fans can read more about player movements and organizational updates in our dedicated Baseball News section.
Only time will tell where these two arms land for the upcoming season. Front offices are constantly hunting for high-upside bullpen arms ahead of spring training.
Here is the source article for this story: Two Pitchers Elect Free Agency
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