The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed their need for a right-handed hitting position player by signing Teoscar Hernández to a one-year, $23.5 million contract during the offseason.
The 31-year-old was originally projected to land a multi-year deal despite coming off a down season with the Seattle Mariners, but his market never truly developed.
Hernández elected to sign a short-term contract with the Dodgers for an opportunity to win a World Series and potentially test free agency at the end of the 2024 season.
The veteran outfielder enjoyed a productive year and could not be happier with his decision to join the Dodgers, via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Teoscar Hernández on his year in LA: "That was one of the best decisions I made in the offseason. Everybody was saying it was a bad deal because it was a one-year deal, but for me what is important is to get better and win. I'm glad that I'm here."
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 29, 2024
Hernández hit .272/.339/.501 with 32 doubles, two triples, a career-high 33 home runs and 99 RBI in 652 plate appearances across 154 games this season.
Hernández emerged as one of the Dodgers’ biggest bats and regularly came through in the clutch as the cleanup hitter.
He is now set to participate in the postseason, which was a priority when Hernández considered his options in free agency. He is scheduled to reach the open market again this winter and should have plenty of offers this time around.
Teoscar Hernández wants to re-sign with Dodgers
Hernández said earlier this month he has enjoyed playing in front of Dodgers fans. “It’s the best thing,” he began.
“Especially because we’re fighting. We’re going to the playoffs but we’re trying to win the division and doing the job we’re doing, late in the season, it’s been great.”
Hernández sharing that sentiment wasn’t much of a surprise considering he previously expressed a desire to re-sign with the Dodgers.
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