The Los Angeles Dodgers announced they agreed to terms with Kiké Hernández on a one-year contract worth $4.5 million for the 2026 season.
Hernández returns to the club after playing 92 games last season that saw him hit .203/.255/.366 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBI. He missed nearly two months because of left elbow trouble and wasn’t his usual productive self in the playoffs.
He still appeared in all 17 playoff games, batting .250 with nine runs, one homer and seven RBI.
The 34-year-old still had a memorable moment when he and Rojas turned a game-winning double play in Game 6 of the World Series to force a winner-take-all matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Hernández made a difficult running catch in left field and then fired the ball to Rojas at second base, who scooped the low throw while keeping his foot on the bag to double up Addison Barger.
The Dodgers went on to defeat the Blue Jays in Game 7 to capture their third World Series title since 2020, making Hernández a three-time champion with the team.
On October 24, 2025, he became the franchise leader in postseason appearances with his 87th game and with 103 career postseason games, he ranks eighth all-time. He is the fourth player of Puerto Rican descent with 100+ career postseason appearances, joining Jorge Posada (125), Bernie Williams (121) and Yadier Molina (104).
Hernández has spent nine seasons with the Dodgers, recording 11.1 bWAR with 95 homers and 320 RBI in 920 games.
This will be his 13th Major League season, spending time with the Houston Astros (2014), Miami Marlins (2014), Boston Red Sox (2021-23) and Dodgers (2015-20, 2023-) and he has slashed .236/.305/.403 with 130 homers and 470 RBI while playing eight different positions on the diamond.
Evan Phillips placed on 60-day injured list
To make room on the 40-man roster for Hernández, the Dodgers transferred Evan Phillips to the 60-day injured list.
This was an expected move as Phillips is recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in late May. The recovery time is typically around 12-18 months, and the hope is that the right-hander will return in July.
Phillips was non-tendered earlier in the offseason to make him a free agent, but re-signed with the Dodgers this week on a one-year contract worth $6.5 million.
The right-hander made seven appearances in 2025, striking out six batters in 5.2 innings without allowing a run before being shut down.
The 31-year-old joined the Dodgers in 2021 via waiver claim from Tampa Bay and starred in the bullpen, going 15-9 with a 2.22 ERA in 201 games. He has posted a microscopic 0.94 WHIP while striking out 221 batters in 195 innings for the Dodgers.
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