DEAL DONE: Twins confirm another league deal

The LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization have signed right-handed pitcher Elieser Hernández to a one-year contract worth $440K, as reported by Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net. To make room for Hernández, the Twins have placed right-hander Casey Kelly on waivers, since KBO teams can only roster two foreign pitchers at a time.

Hernández, 29, had shown potential as a rotation option with the Marlins, starting 17 games between 2020 and 2021 and posting a 3.84 ERA over 77 1/3 innings. He had a solid strikeout rate of 26.3% and kept walks low at 5.7% during that period. However, his performance declined in 2022, leading to a move to the bullpen and eventually to the minors, where he finished the season with a 6.35 ERA in the majors. He was traded to the Mets for the 2023 season but was limited to just 9 1/3 innings in the minors due to a shoulder injury.

In 2024, Hernández had brief stints with the Dodgers and Brewers, recording a 6.32 ERA in 15 2/3 major league innings and a 2.83 ERA in 28 2/3 innings at Triple-A. After being designated for assignment by Milwaukee, he chose free agency and will now seek a fresh start in the KBO.

Many pitchers have successfully revitalized their careers in the KBO before returning to MLB, such as Josh Lindblom, Merrill Kelly, and Chris Flexen. Erick Fedde, the KBO MVP last year, secured a two-year deal worth $15MM with the White Sox and is having a strong season, which could lead to a trade to a contender. Hernández will hope for a similar turnaround.

Casey Kelly, 34, has been with the LG Twins since 2019, posting a 3.25 ERA over nearly 1,000 innings. However, his ERA has risen to 4.51 this year, with his strikeout rate dropping from 23% in 2022 to just 13.9% in 2024.