Pirates Sign Anderson Hernandez, Continue Stocking Up on Experience

Anderson

Hernandez has been around Major League baseball for six seasons, never staying in one place for very long.  Hernandez has pulled on the jerseys of the Mets, Nats, Indians, and most recently the Astros where he spent the entire season in AAA.  Over the course of his career, he has played in 240 big league games.

Hernandez is a switch-hitter who adds yet another infielder to the Pirates organization with big league experience.  The Indians claimed him back in 2010 and designated Brian Bixler if that gives you an indication of his talent level.   It might simply say more about what Manny Acta thought of  Hernandez than anything, but he only lasted about four months with the Tribe before Houston claimed him.

Clint Hurdle and Neal Huntington made it well known that ML experience is a key that was missing when the Pirates were beset with injuries last season.

Of course, we think the most important thing that was missing were players that could hit well.  Hernandez did that at AAA, but only time will tell if he can ever do it at the major league level.

The front office seems on a mission to make up for the lack of experience as with the Hernandez minor-league contract signing, the team has nine non-roster invites extended to players with some big league playing time.

If only a couple of the nine non-roster invites picked up this offseason could hit well at the ML level there might be something to get excited about.  But that’s what these minor league deals/lottery tickets are all about I guess, maybe you scratch off something good if you buy enough of them.