Former Gold Glover Could Hit Free Agent Market, Opting Out Of Deal With Mariners

A ten-year major league veteran infielder, and a former Gold Glover, he simply couldn't land himself a big league job for the 2023 season. Now, after two months at Triple-A for the Seattle Mariners, Cesar Hernandez has exercised his opt-out clause.

Cesar Hernandez opted out of his contract with the Mariners

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 1, 2023

The Mariners will have just a couple of days to add him to their 40-man roster or lose him to free agency. Interestingly, Kolten Wong, the second baseman on the major league roster who would seem to be blocking a callup for Hernandez, has lost his starting job and is batting just .167 with an embarrassing OPS+ of 27 (73% below major league average). Perhaps the M's could still decide to give Hernandez a shot at Wong's expense. 

After a down season with the bat last year with the Washington Nationals (batting just .248 with one home run in over 600 at-bats), Hernandez has been hitting .272 at Triple-A Tacoma with seven steals and a .772 OPS. He still hasn't shown that 21-homer power that he displayed in 2021, as he has not hit a single longball this year to date.

For his career, he's just a bit below average overall as a hitter, with an OPS+ of 95. He has a lifetime .267 average with 71 HR and 91 SBs in his decade of work.

Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports