As the baseball world eagerly awaits what Juan Soto will do in free agency, there are plenty of other very good players on the market. One player who helped his market a lot last season was Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
After one season with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, Hernandez signed a one-year contract with the Dodgers. He had one of his best seasons as a pro in Los Angeles, hitting a career-high 33 home runs and compiling a 4.3 WAR.
He was a key piece for the Dodgers’ World Series run, and they seem eager to bring him back unless they can strike a deal with Soto.
Teoscar Hernandez was a key contributor in the Dodgers’ run to a World Series title.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
However, that could prove difficult, especially with the New York Yankees lurking. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report is predicting the Yankees to sign Hernandez to a five-year, $100 million contract if they aren’t able to bring back Soto.
“The five-year, $100 million deal that Nick Castellanos signed when he joined the Phillies looks like a reasonable comparison,” Reuter wrote. “And while a reunion with the Dodgers remains a distinct possibility, his market could open up once the Juan Soto sweepstakes reaches its conclusion.”
While losing Soto would hurt, the Yankees would get an All-Star outfielder to replace him and also hurt the Dodgers in the process.
