Teoscar Hernandez was a big part of the 2024 championship run. Factoring in that and his blossoming relationship with Shohei Ohtani, and it was a no-brainer for the Dodgers to bring him back on a 3-year, $66 million deal.
Fast forward one year and another World Series title, and there are rumors that the Dodgers might be looking to trade him.
Hernandez, 33, took a bit of a step back overall in 2025. He saw all his numbers dip from the previous year, with his on-base percentage taking a big 55-point hit. He drew just 26 walks in 546 plate appearances (4.8 BB%) after walking 53 times in 652 plate appearances in 2024. He posted a merely league-average wRC+ of 102, despite still hitting 25 home runs.
The thing is, it looked like Hernandez was going to improve on his 2024 season. He got off to a fast start this past season. Through 33 games, he was the best non-Ohtani hitter on the squad. He had a 155 wRC+ while hitting .315/.333/.600 with nine home runs (tied with Ohtani) and a team-leading 34 RBI. Then, a groin injury in early May cost him two weeks of action. After he returned, he didn’t look the same. It’s something I wrote about in early June. Over his final 101 games, he hit just .223/.268/.404, with an 84 wRC+. That’s not great, but also not indicative of Hernandez’s true talent level.
Defensively, he’s never been a gold glover. He has solid enough speed an enough arm for right field, but there were times when his lack of defensive aptitude was noticeable.
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The Dodgers need to add to the outfield this offseason. If they move Hernandez, they’ll likely need to add two. It seems counterproductive, but it could make some sense.
Having said that, where could Hernandez go? Let’s take a look at four options.
The Royals seem to be motivated to add a couple bat-first outfielders this offseason, and they’re the only team mentioned as a destination for Hernandez. With Jac Caglianone patrolling right field, Hernandez would likely slot into left field, where he’s 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 outfield help is the Pirates. They were interested in Kyle Schwarber (even if he’s a designated hitter) before he re-signed with the Phillies. With only Cody Bellinger left as a high-priced free-agent outfielder not named Kyle Tucker, Hernandez is the type of guy they might more realistically target. They did just trade for Jhostynxon Garcia, but an established bat like Hernandez’s could make sense for a team looking to add some thump to a lineup that sorely needs it.
The Marlins are, reportedly, in a similar position as the Pirates. They’re actually looking to spend a bit this offseason to compliment a strong pitching staff, and Hernandez could slot right into the middle of their lineup to help give it a boost. It’s sometimes easier for teams to acquire established players via trade rather than the free-agent market, and Hernandez could help stabilize the young Miami lineup.
Funny enough, the Mets might 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 not having the rosiest of relationships, 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 fallback option.
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The return from any team for Hernandez wouldn’t be too substantial. Here are the specifics of his current deal.
3 years/$66M (2025-27), 2028 club option, 2029 conditional option
$23M signing bonus
25:$10M, 26:$12M, 27:$14.5M, 28:$15M club option ($6.5M buyout), 29:$15M conditional option
$23.5M is deferred ($7.5M in 2025, $8M each in 2026, 2027), with deferred money paid beginning in 2031, six years after it is earned if Hernández has surgery for specific injury / 75 days on injured list, 2028 option is guaranteed and Dodgers get 2029 option at $15M
There is deferred money, there is present-day money and a potential option. Unless the Dodgers cover a substantial amount of the money he’s still owed, it’d be hard to see the Dodgers getting significant player(s) in return. But if you’re moving Hernandez at this point, you acknowledge that and value his roster spot more than what he’s still owed.
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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 handling 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’s in the team’s best interest can be debated.
If they move Hernandez, it’d be a bit of a bummer since he’s so liked by almost everyone. Then again, we (and the players) all know this is a business at the end of the day. Whatever happens, the Dodgers will still need to add an outfielder. For me, I hope it’d be in addition to Teo.
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