Ok, Livan Hernandez does not equal Johan Santana but he does fill a void.
Twins GM Bill Smith probably endured more than his share of criticism for the Santana deal which netted four prospects for the Twins. Perhaps even unfair criticism.
The signing of free-agent Hernandez does make some sense. It was a one-year dealie for $5-6 million. Let’s not forget that the Twins still have Mauer, have re-signed Morneau, and have Francisco Liriano coming back from his Tommy John surgery. The addition of Hernandez who is a fantastic innings-eater (only three pitchers have made 30 starts in the past 10 years, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Hernandez), may be enough to make the Twins interesting in 2008.
There’s only one problem. The Detroit Tigers who right now look to be the far and away the favorite in the AL Central.