1:19pm: The Orioles announced that Hernandez has requested and been granted his release. He’s not expected to re-sign a new deal with the O’s, tweets Joe Trezza of MLB.com.
7:25am: Felix Hernandez has chosen to opt out of his contract with the Baltimore Orioles and become a free agent, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter).
For awhile this spring, it looked like King Felix would indeed win an opportunity to begin the season in the Orioles rotation, but an elbow injury knocked him out of action in mid-March and undermined his efforts. Had he made the roster, he would have been in line for a $1MM salary.
Prior to the injury, Hernandez made three starts, threw 5 2/3 innings, and allowed five earned runs, six hits, two walks, and a hit batsman. He also struck out five. But there simply wasn’t enough evidence that Hernandez would even be healthy enough to take a turn every five days.
Hernandez last pitched in the Majors in 2019. He has a 169-136 record in 2,729 2/3 innings over 418 career starts – all with the Mariners. The soon-to-be 35-year-old put up 50.3 bWAR/54.1 fWAR over 15 seasons in Seattle.
5.2 innings this spring, but not very effective. Meh.
Shocker bum.
how many Cy Youngs do you have?
I swear Darkside, your purpose in life is to troll trolls on mlbtr messageboards. Every damn thread.
chopper – you noticed that too? Actually worse than the trolls at times
No we all notice. Routinely cheapens the discourse. Weighs in even when knowledge is woefully limited on given matters. What a life! Best to turn elsewhere.
Dark side is right. You can’t call Felix Hernandez a bum. In his younger days he was a solid ace. Age just caught up to him
Wear and tear caught up to him more than age honestly. They burned him out at such a young age—that he had nothing left in his arm by the time he hit 30.
If he even had half decent hitting behind him he easily could’ve had 3 or 4 20 win seasons and possibly 2 more cy Young’s
It’s a discussion board. Lighten up Francis
I wouldn’t call Darkside’s comment trolling, in fact it’s perfectly factual, however, this is 2021 and people get emotional and sensitive about facts.
What exactly is factual about it, Fred? It was a snide response/question to a troll voicing displeasure, however misguided it might be, over how bad Felix is these days. Don’t overthink it. It’s constant on these messageboards with this clown.
And while we’re on the useless question he asked, I’ll answer. I have 2 Cy Youngs. 1 T206 portrait. 1 1910 E98 red. See? We can all troll all we want but it does nothing productive.
How many Cy Young’s must one have in order to be allowed to post an opinion here?
At least one.
At least 3
tigersfan – I hope not 3 because I only have 1 ( its a bobblehead but technically still a cy young)
Is “Shocker bum” really an opinion or just an incoherent pairing of words?
Just because you have an opinion doesn’t mean it has to be shared. Just like this one.
I was going to throw my hat in but thought better. One of you guys would probably have stolen it. It is one of the retro ones close to the Sunday home uni.
Hopefully he ends up in the HOF not sure though borderline to me and I am a huge fan.
@tigersfan1320 dose cy’s count if you got them from mlb the show xx, if so i have 5 cy/mvp’s lol and can comment all i want then.
Same number as you DarkSide. Same number as your level of baseball contribution: zero.
The kid is like 17 years old…. everyone needs to lighten up….Why pick a fight w a kid who can’t even buy a pack of smokes?
jbi,
If yous mugs can afford a pack of smokes. (Your comment has a real ‘Bowery Boys’ feel to it.)
Dar,
Is your question rhetorical in nature?
Hey darkside: I love the ZAP in that 7 word ZING !!!
I have 6 Cy Youngs and yes, this guy is a bum.
thecajun is Roger Clemens’ online handle? Good to know.
And while Felix Hernandez is a shell of the pitcher he used to be, that doesn’t make him a bum.
Also, you’re forgetting one Cy Young Award.
Father Time comes for all sometimes earlier. If hardware kept pitchers on the mound Maddox Pedro randy Johnson and Clemens would still be out there.
DarkSide he has as many Cy Youngs as Hernandez does over the last 5 years. The Cy Young’s were then. This is now.
Just goes to show, “Never go full retar*!”
Shocker bum? What are you, 12?
This dope should have left Seattle yrs ago. Will NEVER win the ultimate prize. Shame he wasted all those years and talent on those teams.
He only made what… over 250 million with them. Umm, what a dope? lol
$250 mill vs a $35k ring? Ring all the way! 😉
You sound like the kinda person who hates on Mike Trout for being loyal and staying with the angels instead of going somewhere that has a better chance of winning a ring
I mean, but isn’t the whole point to win a ring?
To some people. Others just appreciate being in the major leagues are getting paid to live out their dreams. Others grow accustom to their cities/fans/surroundings and desire to win a championship for them rather than go ring-chasing like the NBA has become
Agreed. Winning a ring is an added bonus. King Felix was indisputably one of the best among his peers and no one can ever take that away from him. Not his fault his teams weren’t any good.
No. Work doesn’t have to define you. The whole point, is to have a great life, be happy, take care of yourself and your family.
How many “ultimate prizes” have you won?
Should every good player leave the smaller-market teams and go to Boston, NY, LA, or Chicago so the big-market teams can will all the championships?
Someone might take another minor league flier on him, but for all intents purposes, he’s pretty much done.
If you can’t make the Orioles, might be time to retire.
It had nothing to do with the O’s lack of experienced pitching. It had everything to do with Hernandez being unable to physically perform. And by the way, exactly how well are the Tigers expected to do this year? Not much better than the Birds, friend.
MisterB_71 –
Who gives a crap about how the Tigers are going to do? His comment was about the Orioles and Fernandez. Why do you have to attack his team just because he hurt your feelings with a true statement about the Orioles? Just a pathetic response that’s far too common on this website
Ooooh. That’ll put somebody in their place. Not.
The original statement about making the O’s was stupid because it had nothing to do with Hernandez opting out. He isn’t healthy. It would have happened the exact same way with 29 other teams.
There’s always the Angels
Seems like past few few years pitchers are falling fast. Harvey linstrom even few years ago gio could only get minors deal.
Gio was smart and just retired.
Too many miles on the arms. For King Felix to break in at 18 and then get work-horsed by one of the worst front offices in baseball for 15 seasons.. attending his last start as a Mariner was tough, it felt like a retirement. I think he’ll probably take this season off and maybe try a comeback next year. It’s a shame Seattle couldn’t get its act together for 3 of the games biggest stars during the last 30yrs. And now here we art entering playoff drought season 20.
You’re forgetting one. There’s Griffey Jr., A-Rod, Randy Johnson, and Felix. Oh and Edgar Martinez too!
I was going with the big 3, Griffey, Ichiro, and Felix. Of course Gar is my favorite Mariner of all time, I really don’t like A-Rod and he doesn’t factor in to me. Randy left with Mr. Snappy for greener pastures too long ago to also factor into the mismanagement that’s been so pervasive since ‘01. I said 30yr to cover 98% of Jr’s time with the club.
He missed his opp with ATL last year. He might have been able to start a playoff game if he hung around, knowing the need and handing the ball to inexperienced rookies (that worked out more than it didn’t). Sad way to go out, but glad he can determine how the story ends.
If he’s done, King Felix’s enduring legacy should be how he put the final nail in the coffin on valuing a pitcher’s performance based on wins, or W-L record, alone.
It shows how crappy the supporting cast he had in Seattle, nothing more and anyway.. Steve Carlton went 27-10, had 1 of the most dominating seasons of the last 50y on a ’72 Phillies team which finished in last place and didn’t win 60 games.
Winning can depend on supporting cast occasional output of runs, winner, or loser of a team and buckling down when yours only scores 1-2 for the best of the best.
I agree on the whole W/L record. Kinda hard for a starter to win a game with no offense. Per fangraphs, during the 15 years King Felix was in Seattle, the Mariners averaged 27th in the league in offensive WAR and 28th in the league in runs scored.
But has he done enough to make the HoF as is? BBref has his metrics as short of the average HoFer so it’ll be interesting… then again all rules were off when Harold Baines was allowed in.
I always liked Harold Baines. It’s a shame that his enduring legacy will be as the HOFer who really shouldn’t be one. What a travesty that was.
King Felix has career stats comparable to guys like John Lackey, Kevin Appier, and Rick Rhoden…guys who were good pitchers and even staff aces but not truly elite pitchers. Anyone who thinks he will go to the HoF will be disappointed.
I’m a diehard Mariners fan and even I don’t think Felix is an MLB HOFer. Mariners HOF for sure but falls short for the Hall.
37% of Felix Hernandez is starts the mayors gave him two or less runs of support that is an astonishing number like some of the other big pitchers on the percentage of games their offense gave them two or less runs I support Randy Johnson 27%, Pedro Martinez 27%, Clayton Kershaw 31%, Mike Mussina 25%, Jim Palmer 31%, Max Scherzer 26%, Roger Clemens 25% the only picture I could find just threw up a little research I did that compare to Felix Hernandez is Nolan Ryan at 37%
As soon as Felix turned 30 he suddenly became 40.
It makes you wonder if he really is 34 instead of 37 or 38. Coming from one of the countries where you occasionally get some hanky panky with official documents makes it no so impossible that he wasn’t really 19 when he burst onto the scene in 2005.
No reason to think that. Pitchers usually have a window comparable to Felix’s. Not really anything unusual about it.
Honestly he looks closer to 40 than 34, to me. I would not doubt it. But even if he’s 34, his arm has been heavily worked for many many years, so it’s no surprise. Power guys that pitch into their late 30s and 40s are rare. Not that he’s powerful anymore. He should probably retire and preserve his legacy a bit. One of the best to ever do it.
Lying about age was only a problem with Dominican players. Felix is Venezuelan.
“He’s a little dark skinned and he comes from south of the border, must be lying about his age, hurrrrr.”
He totally lied about his age and it shows.
Teacher – Do you have a shred of evidence to support this claim?
Have noticed in the last few days, veterans who have opted out of their contracts wind up back with the team that released them. Usually the next day. The Orioles weren’t going to put him on the 40 man roster to put him on the IL. Doubt any other team would either. Don’t say goodbye just yet
Ohhhh, I thought he opted out of baseball a couple years ago…… silly me.
Hey, Clip.
I’m back from social distancing out on the prairie. Ran a course of chloro quinine (stocked up right away when all this happened).
Took a rapid test an hour ago.
Covid free! Now…can you recap the last five days here, please?
He was throwing nothing but lollipops in camp. Time to move on. Great career and all that, but the train has definitely left the station.
Felix should hang it up before he is no longer known as king but instead known as the kings court jester.
Arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball history over a 5 year span
jessaumodesto – He was a terrific pitcher, but Pedro Martinez and Sandy Koufax – at the least – beg to differ with this assertion.
Felix is way down the list of dominant five year peaks.
espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/33407/the-best-f…
Yea he’s not even close. His 5 best years are not only not comparable to the best ever but they’re not even grouped together.
I should point out that Hernandez did improve his five year bWAR total to 27.8 in the two seasons following that 2013 ESPN article, but still nowhere near the career peaks of Pedro, Clemens, Maddux, Koufax and Randy Johnson (who accrued 42.2 bWAR from ’98-’02!)
Sure, if we pretend Clayton Kershaw never existed.
This was prob his best shot of seeing the pros again … I get it, he’s made his money, he’s out of shape, and that arm has taken a beating over the years, he has nothing to prove. Assuming he still had a spot in the minors, I would have stayed and played it out. I will never be able to understand why guys leave the game unless many injuries force them to or no teams wants them anymore. I’m not in their shoes, I have made millions nor put my body and life through that taxing of a schedule. But it’s got to be hard to leave a job that pays you to play a game. Honestly, would love to see him sign a minor league deal with the M’s and rehab back to make a run as either a starter for them or long relief. That would be a sweet way to end his career
Shocking. Was a great player, fantastic career but a good example of a past his prime guy that was clearly a long shot to be effective this year, in spite of those fans who love to pin their hopes on long ago, past performance. Those hopes rarely work out.
The lack of respect here for an icon and one of the most must-see pitchers during his prime shows just how badly trolls gotta troll.
Half of these commenting probably hadn’t hit puberty before Felix went downhill. But alas, I agree. He was and is a legend, regardless.
He’s a legend in Seattle like Dave Stieb is a legend in Toronto, great pitcher in comparison to others who have worn the same uniform but that’s it. He wasn’t dominant long enough to get any Hall of Fame consideration.
Icon? Ryan,Gibson,Seaver. Maddux, The Big Unit. Watch who you call an Icon. A good pitcher absolutely. But he’s no Pedro. Pitched in a weak division, in a pitcher friendly park. But Icon not quite
Seattle Icon 100%. He’s on the Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners. Most wins in our crappy franchise history. For every 5th day when he got the ball it was must see TV for 12-13 years. Most superstars in Seattle want out but the King chose to stay.
Seattle Icon 100%. He’s on the Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners. Most wins in our crappy franchise history. For every 5th day when he got the ball it was must see TV for 12-13 years. Most superstars in Seattle want out but the King chose to stay.
I don’t get the mt Rushmore thing . Mt Rushmore Isn’t even on the mt Rushmore of mountains
Wait…you used the Mt. Rushmore thing to say Mt. Rushmore isn’t on the Mt. Rushmore of mountains. This might be on the Mt. Rushmore of meta comments I’ve ever read. I need to go lie down.
Mount Rushmore of Mount arushmore? Hmmmmm!!
I don’t think he should’ve opted out. Going to the taxi squad or to the minors wouldn’t have been bad because he would’ve been called up at some point, knowing how bad the Orioles are. Harvey would have been cut after 3-5 starts and Felix would’ve had his chance. If this is the end, which it likely is, King Felix had a good career. He’s no Hall of Famer though. Maybe he will have his number retired by the Mariners but that’s it.
Harvey won’t be cut after 3-5 starts. I think he is at least going to be a mediocre #4. Say a 4.65 ERA or so…
I’d love to see Harvey pitch to a 4.65 era, but I really, really don’t see it happening.
Regardless of HOF or not, he is a legend in Seattle and was a reason to go to the ballpark. Mariners marketing was built around him for many years. King Felix’s Court was an event. The towels, the foam fingers, t-shirts, etc. will live on. Seattle paid him a lot of money to make a lot of money. Attendance was always the highest when he pitched. He brought fans to the game and made them Mariner fans for life. His number will be retired in Seattle and he will be an ambassador for the team.
For sure. M’s announcer David Simms loved having the cameras pan over to “the court” and seeing all the felix memorabilia being worn by those folks and he talked it up big time when Felix was still going good for them, just like he did for Paxton and his Maple tree in the bleacher area few years back when he got off to such a great start and managed to stay relatively healthy for a season.
It’s good for the fans and the team to have an icon like that to look up to and hope can bridge losing streaks.
The King will be back…
I dunno… If you can’t make the Orioles roster…
Anything left in the tank
He’s toast
Before you write him off you should consider the fact that he really didn’t pitch last year. Sure, he’s not the Felix of old, but I wouldn’t doubt that he could help some team as a 4th or 5th starter
I would doubt that based on the last three years and the fact that the only team that showed interest in him just cut him. He may fit in as a 6th starter for a team, temporarily filling in for an injury, but his days as a #4 or 5 are done.
Regardless of HOF or not, he is a legend in Seattle and was a reason to go to the ballpark. Mariners marketing was built around him for many years. King Felix’s Court was an event. The towels, the foam fingers, t-shirts, etc. will live on. Seattle paid him a lot of money to make a lot of money. Attendance was always the highest when he pitched. He brought fans to the game and made them Mariner fans for life. His number will be retired in Seattle and he will be an ambassador for the team.
Comments are especially toxic today. Lot of unhappiness going around.
Still surprised he’s only 34 (almost 35). I would have imagined he would still have some left in the tank.
As an Angel fan, I got to see him pitch quite often live at the stadium and there was just something different about the pop of the glove. A sense of respect on the field for King Felix.
It’s said that the game itself will tell you when your time has come. That very well may be the case here, but King Felix will always be Seattle’s King.
At least I got to see him hit a grand slam.
2020 opt-out claims another victim. Cannot just take a year off and assume everything will be hunky dory. At least he got to watch MLB last year…the men who were willing to play (what was the percentage of positive tests last year? Less than one percent I believe)
Time to retire.
The reason Felix hit a brick wall is because he relied on his velocity and raw ability all his career so when the velocity wasn’t there he had to rely on sabermetrics and also focus on more control over the strike zone but he never took it seriously thinking he would just go back to “vintage Felix”. He thought sabermetrics were a faze that would go away. He never learned consequently hurting his team and himself. He’s not very smart and wasn’t able to understand sabermetrics so he just never did his homework. He dropped out