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.@Astros select RHP Roberto Hernandez and LHP Joe Thatcher; designate RHP Alex White for assignment.
— MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) April 5, 2015
Roberto Hernandez, the 2007 Cy Young contender formerly known as Fausto Carmona, was not on Houston's 40-man roster. That changed on Saturday when he made the opening day roster. He pitched 17 innings this spring for the Astros and gave up 7 runs on 15 hits. Alarmingly, he walked 7 while only striking out 5.
But that was enough to convince the Astros to DFA LGFT Alex White to make room for him on the 40-man. White, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2012, had a 15.75 ERA for the Astros this spring. But with the Indians rotation depth taking two hits in the past month, one wonders if they might look to reunite with White's familiar face on a minor league deal.
Since being traded for Ubaldo Jimenez on July 30, 2011, White has spent time in AA and AAA in the Rockies and Astros systems. The Astros acquired him in December of 2012.
Hernandez spent 2014 in the NL with the Phillies and Dodgers where he had an ERA+ of 89. Back in the American League for the first time since 2013 with Tampa Bay, he will probably bounce back and forth between starting and relieving for the Astros.