The Los Angeles Dodgers saw several contributors from their 2020 World Series roster leave the organization in free agency, including most notably Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson, who both sought larger roles.
Hernandez signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox, while Pederson spent the first half of the season with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in July. Both players went on to thrive with their new organizations, and especially so in the postseason.
While Hernandez and Pederson each had a successful run in L.A., it became evident early on that they wouldn’t re-sign. Furthermore, the Dodgers wanted Gavin Lux to take over the starting job at second base and there was a logjam in the outfield.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman nevertheless kept tabs with the players and recently noted they likely would have departed even if the offered a higher salary, via Andy McCullough of The Athletic:
Friedman indicated the extra money may not have been enough. Based on his conversations with the two players heading into the offseason, he believed both prioritized playing time over money. After his initial conversations with Pederson and Hernandez, Friedman said, he checked in with their agents later in the winter. The stance had not changed: They wanted to play every day.
“I think their focus was on being able to play every day, and how that would set them up for subsequent contracts,” Friedman said. “I don’t think it was viewing it in the vacuum of this one deal. I think it was looking at it in the totality.”
It isn’t surprising that Hernandez and Pederson both prioritized playing time over salary as the two were limited to part-time roles with the Dodgers.
Hernandez and Pederson bet on themselves by signing short-term contracts and now are in position to earn an even bigger payday when they next reach free agency.
Pederson was open to re-signing with Dodgers
Known for his postseason heroics with the Dodgers, Pederson haunted his former team in the National League Championship Series. After homering off Max Scherzer in Game 2, Pederson claimed he would’ve been open to returning to L.A. this past offseason if they had been more aggressive.
Pederson’s latest remarks contradicted the general sentiment that took hold in free agency last year and what he detailed in an essay to explain signing with the Cubs.
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