Right-handed slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is a Major League Baseball free agent.
On October 15, Hernandez turned 32-years-old.
Hernandez is coming off an excellent season with the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, when he hit .272, with 32 doubles, two triples, and 33 home runs, while driving in 99 runs in 652 plate appearances.
Hernandez slashed .272/.339/.501/.840 as a very consequential, slugging outfielder for the Dodgers.
Hernandez hit three postseason home runs; including two in the National League Division Series against San Diego, and one in the World Series, against the New York Yankees. He had 15 postseason hits in 71 plate appearances, covering 16 games.
Hernandez refused the Dodgers qualifying offer of a one year contract for $21.05 million.
If a player declines a qualifying offer and signs with another team, his original team receives a compensatory draft pick.
The Dodgers most likely want to retain Hernandez. But at what price? And for how long?
But aren’t they also interested in Juan Soto, pitchers Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki among other star free agents?
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Perhaps. But the Dodgers certainly have the financial wherewithal to attract and sign multiple high-shelf free agents.
About Teoscar Hernandez:
In February 2011, Hernandez signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic.
Hernandez received a $20,000 signing bonus from the Astros.
Hernandez made his debut in center field with the Astros on August 12, 2016. He recorded two hits in the game, including a home run.
The Astros traded Hernandez to the Toronto Blue Jays in July 2017.
It was in Toronto where Hernandez began to show his power. He played parts of six seasons with the Blue Jays, hitting 129 home runs, and driving in 369 runs in 609 games. He had 2,419 plate appearances with Toronto, and hit .263.
Hernandez made his first All Star team with the Blue Jays in 2021, when he finished the season with 32 homers and 116 RBIs.
Hernandez went to the Seattle Mariners in a November 2022 trade.
After spending only one season with the Mariners, hitting 26 homers, and driving in 93 runs, Hernandez signed with the Dodgers as a free agent.
After his outstanding season, one in which he made the National League All Star Team, Hernandez has now chosen to become a free agent once again.
Hernandez won the 2024 All Star Home Run Derby, which was another sign of his awesome power and stamina.
Hernandez has been awarded Silver Slugger Awards in 2020, 2021, and again this past season.
To this old scout, Teoscar Hernandez remains one of the most underrated sluggers in the game.
Potential Suitors:
With his outstanding power, there should be no shortage of MLB teams interested in signing Teoscar Hernandez.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
One would believe the Dodgers don’t want to leave 30 plus homers on the table. Especially from a hitter like Teoscar.
The Dodgers are always in the hunt for impactful players, and they may want to concentrate more on snagging Juan Soto.
But the Dodgers do seem as a logical option to land Hernandez in a multi-year deal.
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