When last we left the saga of Fausto Carmona — now known as Roberto Hernandez Heredia after it was revealed he had stolen an identity in his home country, the Dominican Republic — he had agreed to take a pay cut from the Indians, in no small part because the Tribe learned he was really 28, not 31.
Now, a lobbyist hired by Carmona/Hernandez says he might be back in Cleveland soon. Paul Hoynes:
A lobbyist working on behalf of Roberto Hernandez, the Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, said he could be back in the United States by the All-Star break.
“I think there is a good chance Roberto could be in Cleveland by the All-Star break,” said Stephen Payne, a visa expert and lobbyist hired by Hernandez’s agents.
Hoynes further reports that Carmona/Hernandez is working out at the team’s facility in the Dominican Republic, and that MLB likely won’t suspend him when he returns to the USA:
The Indians have petitioned the U.S. State Department that the salary cut should serve as punishment enough. It’s believed MLB and the players association feels the same.
It’s confusing enough that Carmona now has the same name as the former reliever who pitched for 10 teams — including the Indians — from 1991 through 2007.
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