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According to a story in the Patriot-News yesterday, 44-year-old relieve Orlando Hernandez, the half-brother of Livan Hernandez and a big part of the Nationals' pitch to sign Yunesky Maya, has left the team.
The story cited two sources who said Hernandez was upset he didn't get a shot to get to the majors, but player development director Doug Harris shot that down, saying it was an "open-ended" deal the entire time, and both sides knew Hernandez might not reach the big leagues.
When the Nationals signed Hernandez, the half-brother of starter Livan Hernandez, it was to give the team some inventory in the minor leagues. But the presence of both Cuban pitchers definitely helped the Nationals land Maya, who signed a four-year deal with the team on July 31. Two team sources said having Orlando Hernandez as a possible mentor was a big boost for Maya.
But with Maya likely to be called up to the majors within a few days and Livan Hernandez signing a contract extension that will keep him here through next season, "El Duque" apparently is headed in another direction.
Hernandez, who last pitched in the majors for the Mets in 2007, has a 90-65 career record in the majors.
