Report: Mets acquire Elieser Hernandez, Jeff Brigham from the Marlins
Report: Mets acquire Elieser Hernandez, Jeff Brigham from the Marlins
Hernandez could be a possibility to serve as the club's swing-man out of the bullpen
The Mets made a minor trade on Friday morning to bolster their pitching depth ahead of spring training, reportedly acquiring RHPs Elieser Hernandez and Jeff Brigham from the Marlins in exchange for minor league RHP Franklin Sánchez (New York Post).
Hernandez, 27, served as both a starter and a reliever for the Marlins in 2022, pitching to a 6.38 ERA over 20 appearances, 10 starts. He went 2-5 with a 5.98 ERA in ten starts for Miami, 1-1 with a 7.47 ERA as a reliever and while allowing 19 home runs in only 62.1 IP. Hernandez started his career in the Astros organization and was acquired by Miami for the 2017 season.
Brigham, 30, fared well in limited duty for the Marlins in 2022, striking out 28 batters in 24 innings while going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 appearances. He did not pitch in the big leagues in 2021, although he’s spent the bulk of his professional career with the Marlins. He has a 3.49 lifetime ERA in 138 career minor league appearances.
Both Hernandez and Brigham were designated for assignment by the Marlins earlier this week - both players can be optioned to the minor leagues.
With Trevor Williams becoming a free agent and uncertain to return, the Mets could need to find a replacement for the swing-man role Williams has vacated. Hernandez could be one of many options the Mets consider for that role heading into the 2023 season.
Earlier this week, the Mets claimed RHP Stephen Ridings off waivers from the Yankees, adding to their potential pool of pitching depth ahead of spring training.