King Felix making push for Hall of Fame
PEORIa, aRIz. Every day for several years, Felix Hernandez has walked past large photos of himself and Randy Johnson — the Seattle Mariners’ only Cy Young Award winners — in the hallway leading to the clubhouse of their spring training complex.
King Felix will make those walks for perhaps the last time this year, with a bigger goal as motivation.
“I know this is my final year, but I don’t think I am done,” the 33-year-old Hernandez said on Tuesday following Seattle’s first spring training workout.
“I think I can do a lot of good things and it is going to be a push for my Hall of Fame career. It means a lot. Now Edgar (Martinez) is in the Hall of Fame. We’ll see.”
Hernandez, who has 168 victories and a career 3.34 ERA, is trying to reverse recent trends entering the final season of a seven-year contract that calls for a US$27 million salary.
His fastball average velocity dropped to a career-low 90.4 m.p.h. last season as calculated by Fangraphs, while his ERA was a career-high 5.55 in 29 outings. He briefly was moved to the bullpen for his lone career relief appearance, a move that did not sit well. But as spring training begins, Hernandez has a spot in the starting rotation, even if it is not as his customary No. 1.
“I don’t care what happened last season,” he said. “This is a new year. I came here ready to go. Let’s see what is going to happen.”
Yusei Kikuchi, Mike Leake and Marco Gonzales are the top three in the Mariners rotation, and lefthander Wade LeBlanc pitched well last season. Top prospect Justus Sheffield was acquired from the Yankees in the James Paxton deal, although he is likely to start the season in the minors.
Hernandez will look to recover from a second half in which he was 0-7 with a 6.44 ERA in his last 10 appearances. “Felix is a competitor,” said Seattle manager Scott Servais. “He is a very proud player, like many veteran players are. He wants to get back to doing his thing. We are going to let him.”