Braves: How Delay of MLB Season Could Hurt Felix Hernandez

We look at how the delayed start to the Major League Baseball season could have a negative impact on the comeback of Felix Hernandez with the Atlanta Braves.

The Atlanta Braves, like every other team, are in limbo waiting to see when we’ll actually play baseball again. Major League Baseball still seems hopeful they’ll start the season on April 9, but I think most of us understand how unrealistic that is at this point.

From the beginning, I thought May 1 was the earliest the season would start, and even that seems optimistic.

And the longer this delay drags on, the bigger impact it will have on Felix Hernandez and other players who came into spring training hoping to earn a roster spot.

Let me say that I understand there are much bigger dangers and issues going on right now.

But this is a baseball site — specifically a Braves baseball site — and we’re going to continue to talk baseball throughout this delay.

King Felix came into spring training with the Braves this year hoping to make a comeback and show everyone the former Cy Young winner still had what it took to compete at the highest level.

And during spring training he proved that, or at least proved he deserved a chance to prove that in the regular season.

With Cole Hamels expected to be sidelined until mid-May, it looked like King Felix would start the year in the Atlanta Braves starting rotation.

However, depending on how long the delay goes on, will the Braves still need King Felix?

Assuming everyone stays healthy during the break, which is not a given, and Hamels continues to progress in his recovery, the Braves could come back from the delay with a full rotation.

Some might say move Sean Newcomb back to the bullpen and put King Felix in the fifth spot, but I’m not one of those people. I think Newcomb can still be an effective starting pitcher if he’s gotten his control issues under … control.

And then you also have Kyle Wright who has pitched well enough in spring training to deserve a spot in the rotation.

If the season is delayed, do you continue to delay Wright’s progression by sending him back to the minor’s for a couple of months?

The other thing to consider with King Felix is that his $1 million contract is prorated based on time spent on the Major League roster.

What if the season is only 130 games long. Does he get a prorated portion of 130 games? And what if the Braves only need him for two or three starts now instead of five or six?

There are a lot of what-ifs right now. But I think we can certainly say this delay will have a big impact on King Felix, and I can only think of it negatively.

Perhaps now the Braves look to trade him to a team that has a need in their rotation where he’ll be guaranteed more playing time. We’ll have to see how this unfolds. At the end of the day, I do hope King Felix gets another shot in the big leagues, whether it be with the Braves or someone else.