Teoscar Hernández was a big part of the 2024 championship run. Taking into account his blossoming relationship with Shohei Ohtaniand it was a no-brainer for the Dodgers to bring him back on a three-year, $66 million deal.
Fast forward a year and another World Series title, and there are rumors that the Dodgers might want to trade him.
The 33-year-old Hernandez took a small step back in 2025. He already saw his numbers drop from the previous year, with his on-base percentage taking a big hit of 55 points. He walked just 26 in 546 plate appearances (4.8 BB%), after walking 53 times in 652 plate appearances in 2024. He only recorded a league-average wRC+ of 102, despite still hitting 25 home runs.
The thing is, it looked like Hernandez would improve on his 2024 season. He got off to a fast start last season. He was the best for 33 matches non-Ohtani hitter on the team. He had a 155 wRC+ while hitting .315/.333/.600 with nine home runs (tied with Ohtani) and a team-leading 34 RBI. A groin injury at the beginning of May cost him two weeks of action. When he came back, he didn’t look the same anymore. It’s something I wrote about early June. Over his last 101 games, he hit just .223/.268/.404, with an 84 wRC+. That’s not great, but it’s also not indicative of Hernandez’s true talent level.
He has never been a golden glove defensively. He has plenty of speed and a good enough arm for right field, but there were times when his lack of defensive skills was noticeable.
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The Dodgers need to add to the outfield this season. If they move Hernandez, they will likely have to add two. It seems counterproductive, but it might actually make sense.
That said, where could Hernandez go? Let’s look at four options.
The Royal houses appear to be motivated to add a pair of bat-first outfielders this offseason, and they are the only team mentioned as a destination for Hernandez. Of Jac Caglianon If he patrols right field, Hernandez would likely end up in left field, where he is better suited to play over the course of a season. The Royals’ 73 wRC+ from the outfield was the worst in baseball.
Another team looking for help in the field is the Pirates. They were interested in Kyle Schwarber (even if he is a designated hitter) before re-signing with the Phillies. With alone Cody Bellinger left as a high-priced free-agent outfielder, uncredited Kyle TuckerHernandez is the type of guy they could more realistically target. They just traded for Jhostynxon Garciabut an established bat like Hernandez’s could make sense for a team looking to add some punch to a lineup that desperately needs it.
The Marlins are reportedly in a similar position to the Pirates. They actually want to spend some this season to compliment a strong pitching staff, and Hernandez could fit right in the middle of their lineup to boost it. It is sometimes easier for teams to acquire established players through trade than through the free agent market, and Hernandez could help stabilize Miami’s young lineup.
Funny enough, the Mets may also make some sense. They just lost Pete Alonso and traded Brandon Nimmo last month. With the recent reports about Jeff McNeil And Francisco Lindor don’t have the rosiest relationship, and there could be an opening for a bat. That is, if they don’t end up paying for Bellinger or Tucker, Hernandez wouldn’t be the worst backup option.
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Any team’s returns for Hernandez wouldn’t be too substantial. Here are the details of his current deal.
- 3 years/$66 million (2025-27), club option 2028, conditional option 2029
- $23 million signing bonus
- 25:$10M, 26:$12M, 27:$14.5 million, 28:$15M club option ($6.5M buyout), 29:$15M conditional option
- $23.5 million is deferred ($7.5 million in 2025, $8 million each in 2026, 2027), with deferred money paid starting in 2031, six years after earned if Hernández has surgery for a specific injury / 75 days on the injured list, 2028 option is guaranteed and Dodgers get the 2029 option for $15 million
There is deferred money, there is present money and a possible option. Unless the Dodgers cover a substantial amount of the money he is still owed, it would be difficult to see the Dodgers getting any major players in return. But if you move Hernandez at this point, you recognize that and value his roster position more than what he still owes.
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The easiest thing the Dodgers could do for 2026 and beyond is move Hernandez back to left field and acquire an outfielder who can either play center field (full- or part-time, with Edman using CF against left-handed pitching), which would move Andy Pages to right field (against right-handed pitching) or find an everyday right fielder. Whether that is in the best interest of the team is debatable.
If they move Hernandez, it would be a bit of a shame because he is so loved by almost everyone. On the other hand, at the end of the day, we (and the players) all know that this is a business. No matter what happens, the Dodgers will still need to add an outfielder. For me, I hope it will complement Teo.
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