The Philadelphia Phillies reached an agreement with right-hander Roberto Hernandez according to Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly. The deal is pending a physical. Hernandez spent 2013 with the Tampa Bay Rays and pitched to a 4.89 ERA with a 6-13 record. Known for inducing ground balls Hernandez had a 53.2% ground ball rate in 2013.
His best season came in 2007 when he went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA in 32 starts with the Indians. Those days are likely long gone but he should fit in the backend of the Phillies rotation. Jonathan Pettibone and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez would compete for the fifth spot in the rotation behind Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Kyle Kendrick and Hernandez.
The Phillies have been relatively quiet at the 2013 Winter Meetings compared to years past. The team has been shopping outfielder Domonic Brown, Jonathan Papelbon and has announced it would listen to offers for Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, but nothing in the way of a trade appears imminent
