The status of Hernandez’s elbow didn’t stop Los Angeles from re-signing the utility man to a one-year, $4.5 million contract as a free agent. Hernandez is not yet on the 60-day injured list, so the Dodgers may think there is still a chance he could return within the first two months of the regular season. Gomes noted that Hernandez will start swinging soon, which should provide some data on the 34-year-old’s progress.
Some might argue that Hernandez only needs to be ready for October, given his history as a postseason performer. The veteran has a modest .236/.305/.403 slash line over 4,152 plate appearances and twelve Major League seasons, but his postseason numbers (.272/.339/.486 in 328 PA) have made Hernandez a key part of the Dodgers’ three championship teams over the past six years.
Gomes also addressed it Eva PhilipsThe recovery from Tommy John surgery and its comparison to Phillips’ return, akin to a trade deadline acquisition, suggests the reliever should be back around the end of July. Since Phillips had surgery in late May 2025, the timeline follows the usual TJ rehabilitation period. Philips himself said Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times that he aims to be back with the Dodgers by August at the latest in order to fully prepare for playoff baseball.
LA did not make an offer for Phillips in November, but re-signed him to a one-year, $6.5 million contract earlier this week. It’s a pretty steep price for a pitcher who can throw about a third of the regular season, but the Dodgers can clearly afford it and are counting on Phillips to regain his former status as a key leverage reliever. Phillips posted a 2.14 ERA over 184 2/3 innings for Los Angeles from 2022-25, recording 45 saves during his time as the team’s closer.
Unsurprisingly, for a pitcher coming out of a Tommy John procedure, Phillips’ market was pretty quiet, as the Red Sox were the only team publicly known to have interest this winter. Phillips told Harris that he “many teams kick the tires and check in“During the offseason, and talks with the Dodgers didn’t pick up again until early February.
Phillips will not return to the closer role upon his return, both due to his long layoff and the fact that the Dodgers have now signed Edwin Diaz to handle ninth-inning duties. The three-time All-Star became yet another Dodgers signee when he signed a three-year, $69 million deal in December, and the $23 million average annual value of his contract is a new record for a relief pitcher.
Diaz headed to Los Angeles after a successful six-year stint with the Mets, and many expected New York to re-sign the closer. The Mets reportedly made Diaz a three-year, $66 million offer, but Diaz accepted the Dodgers’ offer without giving the Mets “an opportunity to counter.” Anthony DiComo of MLB.com writes. One source tells DiComo that New York was open to more than $66 million to retain Diaz, but another source “said Diaz’s camp did not expect the Mets to increase their offer in a meaningful way,” which is why The Closer signed the Dodgers to a $69 million contract.
Diaz’s decision came across as Mets owner Steve Cohen.mind-boggling”, as he told team broadcaster Howie Rose in an interview earlier this week.It’s obviously a personal decision on his part, and I thought we made a pretty respectable offer.” Diaz did not immediately respond to Cohen’s statement, but told reporters yesterday that “I think the Dodgers did a great job recruiting me. Ultimately, I chose to be here. I have great respect for the Mets organization, players, staff and ownership. They treated me very well. I have nothing bad to say about them. But finally, here I am.”
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