Teoscar Hernández played a pivotal role with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2024 season, signing on last offseason, proving to be one of their most clutch performers.
Heading into free agency, Hernández stated numerous times his affinity for the Dodgers, even more so following the club’s World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium with an emotional speech.
One wrinkle to his free agent period is his status as having not received the qualifying offer in prior years, which allows the Dodgers to offer one to him.
This year, they did exactly that as Hernández has received a qualifying offer from the Dodgers, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN:
The full list of the 13 players who received qualifying offers, per ESPN sources:
Juan Soto, New York Yankees
Corbin Burnes, Baltimore
Alex Bregman, Houston
Max Fried, Atlanta
Willy Adames, Milwaukee
Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Anthony Santander, Baltimore
Teoscar Hernández, Los…— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 4, 2024
Hernández was a prime candidate to receive the qualifying offer. He’ll now have time to consider taking the one-year deal, or to stay on the open market in search of a long-term deal.
If he accepts, Hernández would re-sign with the Dodgers on a one-year $21.05 million commitment in 2025. If he declines, he could still choose to re-sign with the Dodgers, or join another team.
The hold-up for other teams pursuing Hernández is the draft pick compensation attached that another team would surrender if they sign him.
Hernández batted .272/.339/.501, with 32 doubles, two triples and 33 home runs, a career high, he also drove in 99 runs. He played in 154 games during the regular season, the second-most in his nine-year Major League career.
The Dodgers’ roster credited Hernández for being a rock in the clubhouse, and a steadying force throughout the year. Most of his lore came in the postseason, his biggest being his game-tying two-run double in Game 5 of the World Series off New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.
Hernández is beloved by Dodgers fans, as well, and the hope by many is a multi-year contract is on the front office’s mind when considering his future.
Outfield situations with or without Teoscar Hernández
The landscape for the Dodgers’ outfield going into the 2025 season has Mookie Betts, Andy Pages and James Outman as their starting three.
Pages showed a bit of promise in the National League Championship Series with some power, but still has some growing to do. The Dodgers likely need to add at least one player to the mix, and Tommy Edman could see more time in center field as well.
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