'King Felix' agrees to minor league deal with Braves

Former Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez has agreed to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, multiple outlets reported Monday. Hernandez would receive a one-year, $1 million deal if added to Atlanta's 40-man roster, according to mlb.com. He will receive an invitation to training camp and compete for the fifth spot in the Braves' rotation.

Hernandez, who turns 34 in April, spent the past 15 seasons with the Seattle Mariners. His seven-year, $175 million contract expired after the 2019 season and Seattle wasn't interested in retaining him after he went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA in 15 starts last season. Hernandez, a six-time All-Star, won the American League Cy Young in 2010. Known as "King Felix," he was one of the best hurlers in the majors from 2009-15 before enduring a major decline.

The last two seasons were particularly bad. He went 8-14 with a 5.55 ERA in 29 appearances in 2018, briefly being demoted from the rotation for the lone relief appearance of his career before an injury to another Seattle pitcher moved him back into a starting role. Last season, Hernandez served up 17 homers in just 71 2/3 innings.

Overall, Hernandez was 169-136 with a 3.42 ERA, 11 shutouts and 2,524 strikeouts in 419 appearances (418 starts) for Seattle. He pitched a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. --Field Level Media

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