2014 Dodgers review: Roberto Hernandez

Our look back at 2014 for Roberto Hernandez is a bit shorter than others, if only because the former Fausto Carmona was only with the Dodgers for two months. The Dodgers acquired the right-handed starter from the Phillies on Aug. 7 for a pair of minor league players to be named, later revealed to be infielder Jesmuel Valentin and 19-year-old pitcher Victor Arano.

What went right

Those first two starts with the Dodgers in August were just fine, going six innings each time, allowing three total runs, and even striking out five in each start after just 13 total strikeouts in his final six starts in Philadelphia.

Hernandez gave the Dodgers just what they needed in his four August starts, with a 3.52 ERA and more importantly in 23 innings, lasting six innings in three of the four starts. He also allowed no home runs in those four starts.

What went wrong

September was particularly putrid for Hernandez, who went from no home runs in August to a home run allowed in every start in the season's final month. Four home runs came on Sept. 1, a 4⅓-inning start that proved to be his longest in a four-start span.

Hernandez lasted just 16 total innings in his first four starts of September, and for the month allowed 17 runs on 20 hits in 21⅔ innings, with eight home runs to go with his 6.10 ERA.

This doesn't necessarily count against Hernandez, but more the Dodgers' player development system that had — by its own evaluation — no major-league-ready pitchers in the farm system ready to step in for an injured Josh Beckett, necessitating the need to trade other minor leaguers for a known mediocrity like Hernandez.

2014 particulars

Age: 33

Salary: $4.5 million, roughly $1.28 million paid by the Dodgers, plus another $400,000 in bonuses based on innings pitched.

Game of the year

On Aug. 14 in Atlanta, in Hernandez's second start as a Dodger, he allowed one run in six innings for his first win as a Dodger. Hernandez walked four, but also struck out five and allowed just three hits, all singles.

Roster status

Hernandez is a free agent.