David Hernandez: The seven-year veteran enjoyed mixed results for the Philadelphia Phillies this season, posting a 3.84 ERA and 4.32 FIP in 72.2 innings.
Hernandez struck out 9.9 batters per nine but also struggled in other areas (4.0 BB/9, 1.4 HR/9). He didn’t get many ground-ball outs and finished the year with a ridiculously high .335 BABIP.
Greg Holland: Once an elite closer for the Kansas City Royals, Holland is a free agent for the first time in his career after missing the entire 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
From 2011-2014, Holland accumulated 9.1 fWAR — second among qualified relievers behind Craig Kimbrel. During the span, he saved 113 games and posted a 1.86 ERA in 256.1 innings, with solid peripherals backing up his numbers (1.92 FIP, 2.40 xFIP).
Holland is an excellent buy-low candidate, who is looking to re-establish his value on a one or two-year deal.
With the Dodgers, he would have the luxury of pitching the majority of his games in a pitcher-friendly environment, with one of the best framers in Yasmani Grandal catching him behind home plate.
And should he build up his velocity again, Holland and Jansen would form one of the best late-inning duos in all of baseball.
However, other clubs in need of a closer, such as the Washington Nationals, could offer him an opportunity to pitch the ninth inning right away, so it’s far from a lock that he’ll accept a lesser set-up role in Los Angeles.
Tommy Hunter: Hunter logged 34 innings in 2016, initially pitching for the Cleveland Indians before joining the Baltimore Orioles in a mid-season trade.
For the two clubs combined, he accumulated a 3.18 ERA and 3.06 FIP with a solid 49.5 ground ball percentage.
Hunter allowed just one home run all season and walked 2.1 batters per nine — right in line with his career 2.0 BB/9.
Sergio Romo: The Brawley, Calif., native hits free agency after spending the first nine years of his career with the Giants.
In 2016, Romo pitched to a 2.64 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 30.2 innings — though he was sidelined for the majority of the first half of the season. While his traditional stats looked good, Romo’s strikeouts per nine dropped from 11.1 in 2015 to 9.7, while his walks per nine increased from the previous year.
Most concerning was Romo’s HR/9, which ballooned from 0.5 to 1.5 this season. As a result, his FIP saw a significant jump to 3.80 — almost two runs higher than his 2015 mark of 1.91.
Romo will be 34 years old come Opening Day, and is likely seeking a multiyear contract. Since debuting in 2008, he’s posted a sub-three ERA in seven of nine seasons.
Romo grew up a Dodgers fan and would presumably pounce at the first opportunity to sign with his childhood team, but given his age and negatively trending peripherals, it’s hard to imagine the front office guaranteeing him anything more than a one-year deal.
