Mets Release Livan Hernandez

NEW YORK -- The Mets may have put an end to one of the more unusual careers in recent memory when they released right-hander Livan Hernandez Thursday.

The 1997 World Series MVP, who in recent years had come to define the term "innings-eater," was 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA for the Mets.

"[I have the] utmost respect for Livan Hernandez," said Mets manager Jerry Manuel, who was a coach on the 1997 Marlins. "In 1997 he put a World Series ring on my finger.

"We as an organization and as a team felt it was time to move in a different direction."

But while the Mets have dropped out of contention, they won't (for now) be using Hernandez's spot in the rotation to look at a prospect, partly because they don't have any who are close to being ready for the majors.

"I don't know if our young players are quite ready for this situation," Manuel said.

Instead, Tim Redding -- who was banished to the bullpen in early July with a 6.99 ERA -- will rejoin the rotation Saturday against Philadelphia.

So on the surface, releasing Hernandez seems to accomplish little. But this could be about money, as the Mets save as much as $550,000 with the move.

Hernandez had pitched 135 innings for the Mets and had bonuses coming at 140 innings ($100,000), 150 innings ($150,000), 160 innings ($150,000) and 170 innings ($150,000).

Over his final eight starts for the Mets, Hernandez was 2-5 with an 8.71 ERA and .366 average allowed.

Billy Wagner, who has recovered from elbow surgery, was activated off the disabled list to fill the vacant roster spot.

Manuel said Wagner would work "somewhere between the sixth and the eighth" innings and for no more than 20 pitches.

Wagner could be auditioning for other teams; ESPN reported the Mets put Wagner on revocable waivers in preparation for a possible trade.

In 14 seasons since the Marlins signed him after he defected from Cuba, Hernandez has gone 154-147 with a 4.43 ERA. He was MVP of the 1997 NLCS as well as the World Series and an All-Star in 2004-05. In 12 career postseason games (10 starts), Hernandez was 7-3 with a 3.97 ERA.

Hernandez, listed as 34, had pitched at least 175 innings in every season from 1998 through 2008, and now no current player can claim such an 11-year streak. From 1997 to 2008, only Greg Maddux threw more innings than Hernandez.

And he kept getting jobs -- with Florida, San Francisco, Montreal/Washington, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado and the Mets -- despite escalating ERAs, in part because he found ways to win. He last had an ERA better than 4.83 in 2005 with Washington; since then, he has gone 44-43 with a 5.28 ERA.

Overall, no pitcher since World War II threw as many innings (2,686) or made as many starts (404) while allowing more than 9.9 hits per nine innings. His .285 career average allowed is highest of any pitcher over the past 55 years with 280 or more starts.

Hernandez's career 1.450 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning) is sixth-highest ever of any pitcher who worked 2,500 innings.

Of course, he could hook on with another team; Hernandez and his agent were unavailable for comment.