The Los Angeles Dodgers and Teoscar Hernández shared mutual interest in coming to terms on a new contract after a successful 2024 season, but the winter brought about stalled negotiations and a free agency freeze.
The impasse came to an end Friday, as Hernández and the Dodgers agreed to a three-year, $66 million contract. It fell in line with Hernández’s reported range for average annual value in a new deal and the presumed length after initial projections forecasted a four-year deal.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Hernández’s new Dodgers contract includes a signing bonus, team option for 2028, buyout and deferred salary:
Eventually, the sides struck a deal that includes a club option of $15 million for the 2028 season with a $6.5 million buyout, $23.5 million in deferred money and a $23 million signing bonus.
When factoring in the Dodgers’ option, Hernández can earn a total of $81 million under the contract. At minimum he’ll receive $72.5 million even if the Dodgers end Hernández’s contract after the three years by paying the buyout amount.
As for the immediate future, they’ve maintained a needed right-handed bat for the middle of their lineup. The Dodgers reportedly began to consider Luis Robert Jr., Seiya Suzuki and Anthony Santander as alternative options in the event Hernández wasn’t re-signed.
The 32-year-old is coming off a season in which he hit .272/.339/.501 with 32 doubles, 33 home runs, 99 RBI, 12 stolen bases and a 134 wRC+ en route to winning a third Silver Slugger Award and second selection to the All-MLB Team.
Hernández led all National League outfielders in home runs, slugging percentage, RBI and a 14.9% barrel rate.
Teoscar Hernández deferred salary
Between his two Dodgers contracts, Hernández is now owed a total of $32 million in deferred salary. From his one-year, $23.5 million deal for the 2024 season, $8.5 million was deferred and due payable in $850,000 installments every July 1 from 2030-2039.
Details for when or how Hernández will receive his new deferred money have not yet been reported.
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