Besides the Los Angeles Dodgers, four other teams have expressed some level of interest during preliminary conversations with free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández, league sources said.
However, Hernández’s preference remains the Dodgers.
Hernández is the No. 11 ranked free agent on The Athletic’s top 40 MLB free agent big board. He sought a multiyear deal last offseason after the Seattle Mariners declined to give him a qualifying offer, but was met with an unsatisfactory market. So he signed a one-year, $23.5 million deal that included $8.5 million in deferred money with the Dodgers and enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career. The 32-year-old slugger hit a career-high 33 homers while bouncing between left and right field, earning a second All-Star appearance (and winning the Home Run Derby) before contributing to the Dodgers’ World Series run.
Throughout, Hernández expressed an interest in remaining in Los Angeles long-term. The two sides never discussed a contract extension during the season, but the Dodgers gave Hernández a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer this week and are expected to pursue a reunion. The interest is mutual, with Hernández saying after the season that returning to Los Angeles was a “priority.”
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Teoscar Hernández says returning to Dodgers will be a ‘priority’
“I’m going to do everything in my power to come back,” Hernández said after the Dodgers’ World Series parade.
The Dodgers seemingly further opened up an outfield need this week, with general manager Brandon Gomes saying during the annual general manager’s meetings that Mookie Betts is expected to return to the infield in 2025. While the Dodgers are expected to be among the teams involved in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, they’re far from the frontrunners for the 26-year-old’s services, with both the New York Yankees and New York Mets already set to meet with him and agent Scott Boras.
Los Angeles has internal outfield options in Andy Pages (.712 OPS in 116 games this season), James Outman (their Opening Day center fielder the past two seasons, who struggled in 2024) and catching prospect Dalton Rushing (who spent the last month of the minor league season as a left fielder). But Hernández remains the team’s preferred option as they look to replace Betts in right field.
“We’ll have conversations with Teo and his group ASAP,” Gomes said.
In the meantime, the identities of the four other teams are not yet known, though the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles would be sensible fits along with any other team looking to spend some money to fulfill a need for a right-handed batting corner outfielder with power.
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