After prolonged negotiations, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Teoscar Hernández agreed to a three-year, $66 million contract. The outcome had long been expected but given reports of an impasse at one point, some doubt began to set in.
Hernández was an important piece for one of the best lineups in baseball last year, proving the Dodgers with 32 doubles and 33 home runs. It resulted in Hernández boasting the top slugging percentage among National League outfielders and fifth-best in the league as a whole.
Not only did the Dodgers value his on-field production, they also appreciated the intangibles Hernández brings to the table and how well he fits within the clubhouse culture.
“There’s a part of the culture, the talent piece, that when you have the right players in place, you need to sustain it. And there’s also another part of adding to that team of people that realize the bar of character, makeup, talent certainly, and hunger for winning,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“So you look at the acquisitions we’ve made this winter, we’ve checked that box as well. A guy like Teo, we’ve created a situation here with the Dodgers, that the bar is extremely high. It’s not just about getting the most talented players. You’ve got to be good on the field and you’ve got to play the game a certain way.
“Because what that does is make people around you better, it holds teammates accountable, and when you’re looking at young players throughout a system, they have something to aspire towards.
“So for us, Teo checked every single box. Like Gomer said, shooting a one-year flier on a player doesn’t always go out to an extension or multi-year deal, but what he did for us and how he made everyone better, it was a no-brainer.”
The feeling was mutual for Hernández, as he explained during his press conference that returning to the Dodgers was his first choice.
Hernández also revealed he didn’t pursue slightly more lucrative contract offers from other teams because he valued his fit with the Dodgers and the relationship formed with the organization.
Teoscar Hernández contract details
Hernández’s three-year deal includes a team option for the 2028 season, with a buyout for the final year of $6.5 million if the Dodgers decline to keep him under contract.
On the surface it is a three-year, $66 million contract, but Hernández can earn a total of $81 million under the contract when factoring in the option. At minimum he is set to receive $72.5 million even if the Dodgers end his contract after three years buying out the final year.
Hernández’s deal also includes deferred salary.
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