Roberto Hernandez signs minor league contract with Astros

LOS ANGELES -- Former Dodgers starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez signed a minor league contract with the Astros with a non-roster invitation to big league camp in spring training, Houston announced on Thursday, eight days before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Astros camp in Kissimmee, Fla.

The right-hander will make $2.65 million if he makes the major league club, per Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, with an opt-out date of five days before opening day.

Hernandez is the latest Dodgers free agent to sign a minor league deal elsewhere, with only Hanley Ramirez and Chad Billingsley inking major league contracts this winter. Kevin Correia, Jamey Wright and Brian Wilson remain on the market.

The Dodgers acquired Hernandez, the former Fausto Carmona, from the Phillies on Aug. 7 for a pair of minor league players to be named, later determined to be infielder Jesmuel Valentin and pitcher Victor Arano. Valentin was rated as the Phillies' eighth-best prospect by Baseball America heading into 2015. Valentin was rated No. 14 in Philadelphia's system by Keith Law of ESPN, with Arano 15th.

Hernandez, 34, was 8-11 with a 4.10 ERA and 4.85 FIP in 2014 with the Dodgers and Phillies, including 2-3 with a 4.74 ERA and 5.51 FIP in nine starts with Los Angeles. Hernandez had three quality starts and two wins in his first four starts with the Dodgers, allowing zero home runs. But he allowed eight home runs in his five September starts, putting up a 6.10 ERA while averaging just over four innings per outing in the season's final month.