The Dodgers haven’t had any in-season extension discussions with Teoscar Hernández, the slugger informed reporters earlier than tonight’s doable elimination recreation (X hyperlink through Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic). Hernández doesn’t appear bothered by the dearth of talks, saying that he’s centered on the season and hasn’t given free company a lot thought.
Hernández has had a incredible rebound on a pillow contract. He drilled a career-high 33 house runs by means of 652 plate appearances. His .272/.339/.501 slash was again to the shape he confirmed throughout his peak years with the Blue Jays. His middling .258/.305/.435 line with the Mariners from 2023 seems like an anomaly — one pushed by his struggles at Seattle’s pitcher-friendly house park.
That down 12 months with the Mariners dealt an enormous hit to Hernández’s market a 12 months in the past. He clearly didn’t discover a multi-year deal that was to his liking. He disclosed the phrases of 1 provide he acquired, telling Rob Bradford of WEEI in July that the Crimson Sox had proposed a two-year, $28MM deal. Hernández wasn’t excited by locking in a number of seasons at a diminished $14MM common annual worth. He signed with Los Angeles for a complete of $23.5MM, although he solely collected $15MM this 12 months. The remaining $8.5MM shall be paid in 10 installments between 2030-39.
Hernández’s wager on himself paid off. He’ll return to free company in a greater place than he was final season. The Dodgers could make him a qualifying provide. He’d very probably decline that $21MM+ wage in the hunt for a long-term deal. Hernández turns 32 subsequent month, so he’ll most likely be restricted to 3 or at most 4 years. That might come at one thing just like the $20MM common annual worth which gamers like Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos acquired as free brokers. Hernández might be the third-best outfielder within the class behind Juan Soto and Anthony Santander.
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Offers Hernández’s productiveness, it stands to cause the Dodgers will make some effort to retain the two-time All-Star each time the season concludes. They might balk at paying market worth on a multi-year deal working into his mid-30s, although. Shohei Ohtani’s presence means the Dodgers would want to decide to taking part in Hernández in left subject for the whole lot of the contract. L.A. moved Mookie Betts again to proper subject when he returned from damage in early August. They’ve used deadline pickup Tommy Edman as their major middle fielder.
They’ll wish to maintain a long-term outfield spot accessible for Andy Pages. The 23-year-old performed largely middle subject as a rookie. Prospect evaluators have typically projected Pages to a nook, which is supported by the middling defensive grades (-8 Defensive Runs Saved, -1 Outs Above Common) he posted in middle. The Dodgers have toyed with taking part in high catching prospect Dalton Speeding extra incessantly in left subject. Barring an damage to Will Smith, there’s no path to common taking part in time for Speeding behind the plate in Los Angeles.