The Dodgers have spent so much money in recent MLB offseasons, particularly this winter, that it is easy to forget that they, too, are subject to luxury taxes, salary cap restrictions, and roster size limits. Finally, they cannot keep everyone at all times. As a result, righthanded slugger Teoscar Hernandez, who signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract in January, is anticipated to leave the organization after this season.
The Dodgers acquired Hernandez after he was unable to sign a long-term contract, and Los Angeles may not want to commit to him in the future. But it’s likely that some team will—and at Bleacher Report, they’re forecasting that the up-and-coming Washington Nationals will offer Hernandez a four-year, there is a $80 million contract to do so.
Hernandez was named an All-Star this season and is batting.260 with a.327 on-base percentage and.474 slugging percentage. This season, he has 22 home runs and 62 RBIs, ranking second on the team after Shohei Ohtani.
Teoscar Hernandez Has Come Through as a Righty Power Bat
However, the Dodgers will most certainly look into other outfield options this winter, particularly if Hernandez receives a long-term contract offer from the Nationals or another team searching for a righthanded power hitter.
According to Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report, Hernández will need to break out of his slump, which has seen him hit only five home runs for the Dodgers since June 12. If he does, the one-year, $23.5 million contract he was expected to sign last winter should be available.
“The same teams that make sense for (Red Sox bat Tyler) O’Neill make sense for Hernández, but I’m going to go with the Nationals for maximum enjoyment. It’s time for Washington to spend again, and adding Hernández would be a great boost for an offense that ranks last in MLB in home runs.”
It is unlikely that Hernandez will be in a “funk” for long, and it should be noted that, while his home runs are down, he is hitting.In his last 24 games, he has a 301 batting average and an.848 OPS.
He remains a top-tier slugger, with a slash line of.317/.349/.628 and 27 home runs in 387 plate appearances against lefties between 2021-23. This season’s numbers are .290/.338/.617 in 107 at-bats.
Dodgers Are a ‘Comfortable’ Fit
It is not a given that Hernandez will leave the Dodgers at the end of the season. He has certainly fit in with the lineup, recently settling in as the cleanup hitter, but the Dodgers may want to incorporate more of their younger players into the mix in 2025.
If Hernandez has his way, he will remain with the Dodgers in the future, rather than joining what would be his fourth team in four years—the Blue Jays, Mariners, Dodgers, and possibly someone new in 2025.
In a spring chat with MLB.com, Hernandez stated, “I want to stay.” I don’t want to continue hopping around the league. And I’m feeling happy and comfortable here. I think I have a strong chance of winning. That is the most essential thing to me. It’s a fantastic group. “I’d love to stay.”
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