Normally, the signing of a pitcher to a minor league contract who went 1-8 with a 6.40 ERA in his most recent season would not garner much interest. Or much enthusiasm. There would be a story here and fans would await the pitcher getting his shot to prove he still has it during spring training.

But it's not every day a rebuilding team can sign someone with the resume of right-hander Félix Hernández.

Some fans, certainly not all, did express some excitement last night when the Orioles agreed to a minor league contract with "King Félix," a six-time All-Star and the 2010 American League Cy Young winner. He certainly will garner immense respect when he first walks into the Baltimore clubhouse in Sarasota in less than two weeks. When he speaks, his teammates will, no doubt, be all ears. He can bring all that success and experience to help and mentor his younger teammates.

Félix Hernández joining the Orioles? I think that's an exciting move even before we see him throw a pitch. He reportedly was looking very solid last March before baseball shut down. He was likely going to make the Braves rotation, and he posted a 1.98 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13 2/3 spring innings.

"He did exactly what we asked him to do, which is get guys out," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker told reporters last July. "He didn't do anything to not warrant making our club in the spring."

Atlanta signed Hernández to a minor league deal for $1 million - same terms as the Orioles - on Jan. 20, 2020. But he opted out of the season in July due to COVID-19 concerns.

So the pitcher with 169 career wins over 2,729 2/3 innings while pitching to a 3.42 ERA has not made a big league start since Sept. 26, 2019 for Seattle against Oakland. He allowed five hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings. By the way, his second-to-last start was Sept. 20, 2019 at Camden Yards. He gave up five runs over five innings versus the Orioles, allowing home runs to Anthony Santander and Hanser Alberto.

But while he won his first start of 2019 - a season when he threw the fewest innings of his major league career with 71 2/3 - he went 0-8 over his last 14. So if he pitches in the regular season for the Orioles he will be trying to snap an eight-game losing streak while looking for career win No. 170.

A few more notes on the King:

* He recorded his 2,500th career strikeout on May 11, 2019 at Boston. He became the 36th pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball to reach that milestone. At 33 years, 33 days of age, he was the sixth-youngest in MLB history to reach 2,500 strikeouts. He was behind only Nolan Ryan (31,101), Walter Johnson (31,197), Pedro Martinez (32, 221), Tom Seaver (32, 287) and Bert Blyleven (33, 000).

* Hernández, Randy Johnson and David Cone are the only pitchers in major league history to throw a perfect game, win a Cy Young and record at least 2,500 strikeouts.

* He won the American League ERA title twice, posting a mark of 2.27 in 2010 and 2.14 in 2014.

* He is the only Mariners pitcher to hit a home run, hitting a grand slam off Johan Santana, in 2008 at Shea Stadium. He was the first pitcher to hit a grand slam off a Cy Young winner since Steve Carlton off the Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela in 1984.

* Hernandez pitched the 23rd perfect game in MLB history on Aug. 15, 2012, in a 1-0 victory over Tampa Bay. That marked the seventh 1-0 perfect game in MLB history, and first in the AL since 1984.

* From 2006-2015 he recorded a 3.13 ERA over those 10 seasons. In that span, he led MLB pitchers in FanGraphs WAR with 50.1.

Meanwhile, right-hander Alex Cobb talked about leaving the Orioles in this entry. I'll miss Cobb for his immense professionalism and his availability. Back in the day when we were allowed in the clubhouse, Cobb was extremely helpful to me, and I'm sure other reporters would say the same. A real good guy, and on many nights after he made a start I would walk away from his locker after a postgame interview feeling like he provided us real insight into his game that night. Wishing him success with the Angels.