Pirates Trade Jose Hernandez Back to Dodgers

Late Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded left-handed reliever Jose Hernandez to the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations.

The Pirates had designated Hernandez for assignment on Tuesday after they claimed right-hander Dennis Santana off waivers from the Yankees.

Hernandez was selected by the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft two offseasons ago from the Dodgers’ organization.

The 26-year-old completed the necessary requirements last season by spending the year on the major-league roster, thus giving the Pirates control over him this season and beyond.

Hernandez made 50 appearances out of Pittsburgh’s bullpen last season. The rookie showed flashes of strong pitching but faded down the stretch. In the end, he finished the season at 1-3 with a 4.97 ERA and struck out 62 batters in 50.2 innings pitched.

The left-hander wasn’t supposed to be on the Pirates’ Opening Day roster in 2024 but was added prior to the opener in Miami when the since DFA’s Roansy Contreras was placed on the paternity list.

Hernandez was immediately thrown into the fire and recorded his first-career save in Pittsburgh’s season-opening win over the Marlins. The Pirates shuffled Hernandez between the bigs and Triple-A Indianapolis this season. In seven appearances in the majors he went 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

With Indianapolis, Hernandez made 14 appearances and posted a 7.04 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 15.1 innings pitched out of the bullpen.

Now, Hernandez returns to the organization that signed him as an amateur free agent and the Pirates lose a left-handed option for the bullpen.