Teoscar Hernández remains among the group of Los Angeles Dodgers free agents more than one week after Juan Soto agreed to sign with the New York Mets, which was not an expected development.
Conventional wisdom held the market would quickly move for Hernández and fellow outfielder Anthony Santander once Soto made his free agency decision. Particularly with the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox among the teams linked to both Soto and Hernández.
But bidding seemingly has not reached a fever pitch for the first Home Run Derby champion in Dodgers franchise history. That’s despite Hernández only looking to sign a three-year contract with an annual salary of no more than $24 million, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:
The Dodgers and Hernández seemed headed for a reunion, but the two sides haven’t been able to reach a deal thus far. That opened the door for other teams – namely the Red Sox and Blue Jays – to jump in on the outfielder, who is seeking a three-year deal in the $22-24 million a year range, per sources.
There had been some belief Hernández’s slow-moving market was due to seeking a contract that most teams weren’t comfortable with for a 32-year-old who already has questions defensively and penchant to strike out.
But Hernández’s reported desires in his next contract are hardly egregious for a player of his caliber. Hernández signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers for the 2024 season in a bet on himself.
The deal included deferred salary and bonuses, one of which was an additional $1 million for winning a Silver Slugger Award.
Hernández was paid $15 million for the 2024 season, and is going to receive the remaining $8.5 million of his salary spread among annual $850,000 installments payable on July 1 from 2030-2039.
Are Dodgers close to re-signing Teoscar Hernández?
Free agency for Hernández began with being extended the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer for the 2025 season. He predictably rejected that but all the while is believed to have maintained a preference of returning to the Dodgers.
That’s a sentiment president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts have each shared as well.
It was reported Hernández and the Dodgers were nearing a contract agreement at the conclusion of the Winter Meetings in Dallas, but that’s yet to come to fruition. The expectation still remains that the Dodgers ultimately will re-sign Hernández.
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