Earlier this week, the false identity charges were dropped against Fausto Carmona Roberto Hernandez. That's the good news for the Indians right-handed pitcher. The bad news for him is that the Indians have now been able to restructure his contract. They have reduced his salary for 2012 to far less than the $7 million he was originally due and also deleted an option year from his contract. Hernandez originally signed as Carmona to a $9 million option for 2013 and a $12 million option for 2014. Since then, however, the fradulent name issue has come forth, as was the revelation that he could be up to three years older than he's been listed for years.
Obviously, this is a nightmare for Hernandez, but it could end up being a blessing in disguise for the Indians. Hernandez was 7-15 with a 5.25 ERA and 1.41 WHIP last season in 32 starts. He was also pretty awful in 2008 and 2009. Now that we know he might be 31 instead of 28, it's even harder to imagine the great 2007 season being the norm and instead his upside is probably his average-ish 2010 campaign.
And do the Indians really need Hernandez? They have a top four of Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson, Derek Lowe and Josh Tomlin. Then they have four guys fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation -- as we covered in the AL Central updated position battles earlier Wednesday.
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