The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Teoscar Hernández to be a powerful force in their lineup for this season, and after a career-year with the club, their gamble on each other has paid off.
After batting .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs, 99 RBI and a 134 wRC+ during the regular season, Hernández answered all questions about his ability after a down year with the Seattle Mariners.
Hernández continued to make his presence felt in the playoffs and through the World Series, but during that run, he didn’t put any thought into his future as a free agent.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought at all about my free agency,” Hernández recently said. “Right now I’m more worried about what can I do to help this team win today. Not thinking about what’s going to happen tomorrow. For me, what the priority is what Teoscar Hernández is going to do to help the Dodgers win today.”
When asked about his future with the Dodgers and if the front office approached he or his agent about a possible contract extension, there wasn’t much traction on that front.
“Not really,” Hernández said.
The Dodgers choosing to keep their options open with Hernández is a move that isn’t surprising for the front office. Because of his age and projected contract cost, they might choose to let Hernández gauge the market.
Having the ability to extend a qualifying offer to Hernández for one-year deal and a $21.05 million salary, the Dodgers might be more inclined to play that game and possibly match an offer he receives on the open market.
Hernández nevertheless has continued to make it clear his preference is to re-sign with the Dodgers.
Should the Dodgers re-sign Teoscar Hernández?
This is a nuanced answer because of where the Dodgers currently are with their projected lineup and how much they’ll want to commit to Hernández on the financial front.
He’s expected to receive a multi-year contract that could reach up to three years and $71.3 million. That would make Hernández the highest-paid left fielder. Because he’s 32 years old, the pause is there from the organization.
From a pure positional-need standpoint, the Dodgers are incredibly thin in the future with their outfield options. Hernández could bridge the gap until prospects like Zyhir Hope are ready to go, and an extension of three years would fit their window with other aging veterans.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
