The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Teoscar Hernández to a three-year, $66 million contract that also includes a team option for the 2028 season.
Hernández is officially back with the Dodgers after lingering in free agency for much longer than anticipated. He was among multiple players viewed as a fallback option for teams that fell short in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.
But even after Soto signed a record-setting contract with the New York Mets, the market moved slowly for Hernández and Anthony Santander. The Mets are said to have inquired with Hernández on a two-year contract.
Money, including deferred salary, was believed to be at the root of the impasse in negotiations between the Dodgers and Hernández. They reportedly began to evaluate alternatives to the 32-year-old, including a potential Seiya Suzuki trade, shortly before agreeing to terms with Hernández.
The two-time All-Star reportedly received a $23 million signing bonus as part of his new Dodgers contract. Hernández’s deal also includes a $6.5 million buyout if the Dodgers decline their team option for 2028, and $23.5 million in deferred money.
Even as the Dodgers and Hernández remained at odds over contract terms, the expectation for a reunion remained the favored outcome. Hernández went into free agency having made it clear his preference was to remain with the Dodgers.
That was a sentiment also expressed by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts.
“It would be tough,” Roberts said of the team potentially having to replace Hernández. “Obviously I’m a huge fan of Teo. We have a great relationship. His words, he loved everything about being a Dodger, and I’m always going to be a Teo fan.
“There’s not a whole lot of guys that can start 157, 158 ballgames and post and then to be that productive. Then you layer on being in a big market, helping us win a championship. So those players don’t come around very often.
“But obviously Teo has put himself in a very good position as a free agent and had a very productive year. So he’s got some decisions to make as well. He’s going to kind of suss those out. It would be hard for me not to see him coming back.”
Hernández 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 in 2024.
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.
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