Carlos Hernández: Everything you need to know

Hernandez is making progress but is still in the midst of a rehab program after suffering fractures to his left arm and right leg during a Jan. 11 car accident in Venezuela, SI.com reports. Hernandez is still sporting a cast on his injured arm and is walking with the assistance of a crutch just over a month after the accident, so he doesn't appear likely to take part in spring training workouts anytime soon. The 28-year-old right-hander signed a minor-league deal with Cleveland in November and is expected to settle into the bullpen at Triple-A Columbus once he fully recovers from his injuries. Hernandez pitched primarily in the majors in 2025, logging a collective 6.23 ERA and 1.66 over 43.1 innings across stops with the Phillies, Tigers and Guardians.

The Guardians re-signed Hernandez to a minor-league contract Thursday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports. The Guardians were one of three teams Hernandez pitched for in 2025, as he held a 6.23 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 39:22 K:BB over 43.1 innings between Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland. With an average four-seamer velocity of 97.7 mph, Hernandez remains one of the hardest throwers in the game, but he's been an unreliable bullpen arm.

Hernandez elected free agency Friday. Hernandez bounced around between Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia during the regular season, logging a 6.23 ERA and 1.66 WHIP across 43.1 big-league innings. He'll now have the freedom to sign with whichever team he chooses this winter, though he may need to settle for a minor-league contract.