Junior Fernández - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Minors deal with Mets The Mets signed Fernandez to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Impact Fernandez had been at Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization, where he held a 4.93 ERA and 53:26 K:BB over 38.1 frames. The 28-year-old hasn't seen any action at the big-league level since 2022 but will give the Mets some experienced relief depth at Triple-A Syracuse.

JULY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Cut from big-league camp The Royals reassigned Fernandez to minor-league camp Monday.

Impact Fernandez was among the six Royals who were sent to minor-league camp Monday in the latest round of roster cuts. The 28-year-old reliever made 50 appearances at the big-league level between stops with the Cardinals and Pirates from 2019 through 2022, but he spent the entire 2023 season in the minors before linking up with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2024. Now back stateside with the Royals organization, Fernandez is likely to serve as depth arm at Triple-A Omaha for much of the 2025 campaign.

MARCH 10 • ROTOWIRE

Latches on with Kansas City The Royals signed Fernandez to a minor-league contract Friday.

Impact Fernandez signed with Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines last offseason but wound up making just two appearances for them. The right-handed reliever last appeared in the big leagues in 2022 and has posted a 5.17 ERA and 47:35 K:BB over 54 career innings covering parts of four major-league seasons.

DECEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to Japan Fernandez signed with the NPB's Chiba Lotte Marines on Saturday.

Impact Fernandez elected to become a free agent after spending 2023 with the Blue Jays' and Nationals' Triple-A affiliates. He put up a 5.37 ERA and 1.72 WHIP through 58.2 innings in the minors, and he'll now look to hone his craft overseas.

DECEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Signs with Nats Fernandez signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Tuesday.

Impact Fernandez put up a 5.88 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through 49 innings with the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, and he'll now sign on with the Nationals as organizational depth. The 26-year-old righty logged a 2.41 ERA through 18.2 innings in the majors last season, though it seems unlikely he makes it back to the bigs this year.

AUGUST 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Clears waivers and outrighted Fernandez cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Impact Fernandez was designated for assignment for the fourth time this winter, and this time went unclaimed by another organization. He'll be organizational depth for the Blue Jays in 2023.

JANUARY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Fernandez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Impact Fernandez was just claimed by the Jays last week and will now go through the waiver process again. If he does switch teams again, it would be his fifth since September.

JANUARY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On the move again Fernandez was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays from the Yankees on Thursday.

Impact Since September, Fernandez has gone from the Cardinals to the Pirates to the Yankees and now to the Blue Jays via the waiver process. It's easy to see the appeal in taking a shot on Fernandez's big arm, but it's been a few years since the 25-year-old has had consistent success at the major- or minor-league level.

JANUARY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Fernandez was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Wednesday.

Impact Fernandez made 16 appearances for the Pirates and Cardinals in 2022 and posted a 2.41 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 18.1 innings. He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees in mid-November but will be cast off the 40-man roster after the team recently signed several free agents.

DECEMBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joins New York via waiver claim The Yankees claimed Fernandez off waivers from the Pirates on Friday.

Impact Pittsburgh designated Fernandez for assignment earlier this week after he had previously been DFA'd by St. Louis in September. Fernandez is a 6-foot-3 right-hander who can pump the fastball in at close to 99 mph on average. He hasn't enjoyed much success in parts of four big-league seasons, but the Yankees will be hoping their development team can help him harness the stuff.

NOVEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

DFA'd by Pittsburgh Fernandez was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Tuesday.

Impact The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in early September and was called up to the majors for three appearances during the final week of the season. Fernandez had a 2.41 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 14:12 K:BB across 18.2 innings between Pittsburgh and St. Louis but won't retain his spot on the 40-man roster.

NOVEMBER 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joins big-league club Fernandez was recalled by the Pirates on Saturday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Fernandez was claimed off waivers from the Cardinals in early September but has remained at the Triple-A level since then, allowing two runs on two hits while posting an 8:6 K:BB in eight innings for his new organization. In 50.2 career major-league innings, he owns a 5.51 ERA.

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pujols hits 701st homer, Flaherty pitches Cards past Pirates

Albert Pujols hit his 701st home run, Jack Flaherty allowed one run in six innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • Associated Press

Mets ride deGrom, Bassitt to doubleheader sweep of Pirates

Jacob deGrom threw seven dominant innings and the New York Mets routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-0 to complete a doubleheader sweep

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 • Associated Press

Optioned to Triple-A Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.

Impact Fernandez has not appeared in a game since giving up three earned runs July 26, so the Cardinals decided to remove him from the roster to open up a spot for Yadier Molina. Fernandez did not allow an earned run over his first 13.0 big-league innings of the season, so he figures to garner consideration next time the Cardinals need to bring up a reliever from the minors.

AUGUST 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tagged for three runs Fernandez allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one in one inning during Tuesday's 10-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

Impact Fernandez began the year with 12.1 scoreless innings, but he's now yielded six runs (five earned) in his last three frames over four appearances. The 25-year-old right-hander was due for some regression after beginning the campaign strong, and he now has a 2.93 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 12:8 K:BB through 15.1 innings. He's given up three home runs in two outings since the All-Star break, so keeping the ball in the yard will be key in getting Fernandez back on track.

JULY 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yet to be charged with run Fernandez has posted nine scoreless innings since his call-up June 22.

Impact In that span, Fernandez has allowed two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts, though he took a blown save for allowing an inherited runner to score July 2 against the Phillies. Fernandez has maintained a .143 BABIP and 2.48 FIP across 11 innings overall -- the first mark is unsustainable, but the second suggests any regression that arises won't be overwhelming. The right-hander has added a 0.64 WHIP and could see an increased role, but he's likely to stick as a middle reliever given the strength at the top of the Cardinals' bullpen hierarchy.

JULY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joins big-league bullpen The Cardinals recalled Fernandez from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

Impact He'll move up to the big club for the second time this season with fellow reliever T.J. McFarland heading to the COVID-19-related injured list in a corresponding move. Over 26.1 innings out of the bullpen at Memphis in 2022, Fernandez has turned in a 5.13 ERA and 1.69 WHIP. He'll be limited to a low-leverage role while he's up with St. Louis.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to minors Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Impact Fernandez was promoted from Memphis earlier this week and will now return return there after delivering two scoreless frames in his first big-league outing of 2022. The right-hander has struggled at the Triple-A level this year with a 6.35 ERA.

MAY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Goldschmidt's slam in 10th lifts Cards to 7-3 win over Jays

Paul Goldschmidt hit a walkoff grand slam in the 10th inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays

MAY 24, 2022 • Associated Press

Joins St. Louis bullpen The Cardinals recalled Fernandez from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Impact Fernandez will join the St. Louis bullpen as a fresh-armed replacement for Angel Rondon, who was optioned to Memphis after tossing five innings and 86 pitches in long relief during Sunday's 18-4 win over the Pirates. The 25-year-old right-hander is up with the big club for the first time in 2022, but he made 18 relief appearances for St. Louis in 2021 and produced a 5.66 ERA and 1.94 WHIP across 20.2 innings.

MAY 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Opening season at Triple-A Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Impact Fernandez is still just 25 years old, but he's yet to show much at the big-league level over parts of three seasons. In 35.1 innings of relief, he's struggled to a 6.62 ERA, striking out 19.8 percent of opposing batters while walking 13.8 percent.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Set to pitch in relief Tuesday Fernandez (shoulder) is listed among the Cardinals relievers scheduled to pitch behind starter Dakota Hudson in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Jeff Jones of...

Impact Fernandez is on track to make his second appearance of the spring, after he worked around a walk and a hit in a scoreless frame to earn a save against the Mets in his spring debut Sunday. After closing the 2021 campaign on the injured list due to a strained right shoulder, Fernandez looks healthy this spring and should have a shot at breaking camp as a member of the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen.

MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Junior Fernández: 'Didn't execute a pitch' on Braun's grand slam

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Los Angeles will face St. Louis in the NL wild-card game

The Dodgers will host the Cardinals in the one-game NL wild-card playoff

OCTOBER 6, 2021 • Associated Press

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Pujols hits 701st homer, Flaherty pitches Cards past Pirates

Mets ride deGrom, Bassitt to doubleheader sweep of Pirates

Goldschmidt's slam in 10th lifts Cards to 7-3 win over Jays

Junior Fernández: 'Didn't execute a pitch' on Braun's grand slam

Los Angeles will face St. Louis in the NL wild-card game