The Los Angeles Dodgers are fresh off winning their second World Series title in five seasons. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández was a huge reason why LA reached the top of the baseball world in October. Will they find a way to re-sign the veteran slugger?
Instead of signing a multi-year deal last winter, Hernández bet on himself by agreeing to a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers. It paid off handsomely as he earned his second All-Star selection and won his first championship. He also took home his third career Silver Slugger Award after posting a .840 OPS with 33 home runs, 99 RBI and 84 runs scored in 652 plate appearances.
A reunion between the Dodgers and Hernández has been the expectation across baseball this winter. He was anticipated to re-sign with LA quickly, but that hasn’t come to fruition yet. That leaves the door open for other teams – like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees – to steal him away.
Despite that possibility, FOX Sports’ Rowan Kavner is predicting Hernández will remain in Hollywood after signing a three-year deal.
“But Hernández played a major role in the Dodgers’ success last season and was a perfect fit both on the field, where he was an All-Star, and in the clubhouse, where he struck an immediate relationship with Ohtani and was a seed-throwing joy,” Kavner wrote. “(Dave) Roberts said it would be tough to have to replace his presence in both regards.”
Spotrac is projecting a three-year, $71 million deal for the 33-year-old, but with other teams showing interest, his price could start to increase.
