César Hernández to sign minor-league deal with AL team

Former Philadelphia Phillies infielder César Hernández is reportedly off the free-agent market, ready to join his fourth team in three seasons. He’s agreed to a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to a Wednesday afternoon report from Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training, and Hernández will make a base salary of $1.5 million if he makes the Tigers roster, Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reported.

Hernández, 32, spent the first seven seasons of his big-league career in Philadelphia from 2013-2019, establishing himself as a solid option at second base and at the top of a batting order. After leaving the Phillies, he had a strong first season in Cleveland as he led the American League with 20 doubles in the shortened 2020 season.

Since then, however, Hernández’s production has trended downward. He launched a career-high 21 home runs in 2021 with Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox, but his on-base ability suffered as he posted only a .694 OPS. Playing this past season with the Washington Nationals, he had a .629 OPS with only one homer in 147 games.

Now joining the Tigers and trying to break camp with the club, Hernández will look to get back to his old standard as he likely competes with fellow former Phillie Nick Maton — acquired earlier this offseason along with Matt Vierling and Donny Sands in a trade that sent All-Star reliever Gregory Soto to Philadelphia — for an infield spot in Detroit.

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