The Dodgers have introduced Teoscar Hernández again on a three-year deal. The Republik Sports activities consumer is reportedly assured $66M, together with a $23M signing bonus. There’s somewhat greater than $23M in deferred cash, whereas the deal features a $15M crew choice for the 2028 season.
Hernández, 32, will get the three-year deal he’d been looking for. The slugger had referred to as returning to the Dodgers a precedence after an enormous first season with the crew. Hernández slashed .272/.339/.501 with 33 homers throughout 652 plate appearances. He carried that sturdy manufacturing into the postseason, hitting three longballs with a .250/.352/.417 slash over 16 video games to assist the Dodgers safe their second championship in 5 years.
This was the best consequence for a participant on a pillow contract. Hernández had reached free company final winter on the heels of a middling season in Seattle. He had turned in a .258/.305/.435 slash over 678 plate appearances as a Mariner. In consequence, Hernández didn’t discover the profitable long-term supply he’d been looking for. Whereas the Pink Sox provided him a two-year deal that will’ve include a $28M assure, he signed for one season on a deferred $23.5M wage with the aim of reestablishing his market worth.
It couldn’t have labored out significantly better for both facet. Hernández had probably the greatest seasons of his profession. He earned his second All-Star nod and Silver Slugger award whereas choosing up down poll MVP votes for the third time. Hernández established a brand new profession excessive in residence runs with charge stats that had been consistent with his greatest years in Toronto. He was an instrumental a part of a championship roster.
The down yr in 2023 seems to be like an anomaly. He’s hardly the one veteran hitter to battle in Seattle’s extraordinarily pitcher-friendly residence park. Hernández has been an affect hitter in every of the opposite 4 seasons since his breakout in 2020. Over the previous 5 years, he owns a .274/.328/.493 batting line in practically 2,700 journeys to the plate. There’ll be a good variety of strikeouts, however few gamers hit the ball as exhausting as he does. Hernández is an annual menace for 30+ doubles and no less than 25-30 homers.
Hernández was the one key offensive participant whom the Dodgers feared shedding in free company. He’ll return to affix Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, Tommy Edman and Gavin Lux in a loaded offense. The Dodgers added Michael Conforto on a one-year, $17M contract on the Winter Conferences. No different crew rivals the efficiency of the L.A. lineup.
The Dodgers are taking over some danger from a defensive perspective. Regardless of plus arm energy and surprisingly sturdy athleticism, Hernández has by no means graded as an excellent defender. That continued this season. Defensive Runs Saved felt he was three runs beneath par in his 1,308 mixed innings between the nook outfield spots. Statcast rated him rather more harshly, estimating he was 11 runs beneath common.
Hernández isn’t seemingly to enhance on a contract that runs by way of age 34. An excellent touchdown spot would’ve allowed him to maneuver to designated hitter in yr two or three. That’s not an choice on a crew with Ohtani. The Dodgers are transferring Betts to shortstop and may have Hernández and Conforto flanking Edman within the outfield. They’ll settle for a mediocre defensive unit for the possibility to stack with the lineup with good hitters.
Including Conforto and re-signing Hernández blocks the trail to on a regular basis at-bats for kids Andy Pages and James Outman. The latter appears like a change of surroundings candidate after a disappointing second MLB season. The Dodgers will in all probability be much less inclined to maneuver the 24-year-old Pages, who had a league common .248/.305/.407 displaying as a rookie. He nonetheless has a minor-league choice remaining, so they might begin him in Triple-A in the event that they don’t need to restrict him to fourth outfield work.
Pages doesn’t have anything to show within the minors, however the Dodgers have the sources to proceed loading up. Different groups determine to no less than attempt to pull him away by way of commerce, although L.A. may want to carry him as a substitute for Conforto after subsequent season. Signing Blake Snell and retaining Blake Treinen earlier within the winter leaves the Dodgers with none clear holes on the roster.
Firstly of the offseason, MLBTR predicted Hernández would obtain a three-year deal at $60M. He’ll land barely above that forecast in uncooked cash, although the deferrals will scale back the web current worth to some extent. A 3-year, $66M deal with out deferrals would include a $22M aggressive steadiness tax hit. Hernández’s quantity will find yourself a bit beneath that. The particular payout construction, which hasn’t been totally reported, will decide how MLB calculates the contract for tax functions.
Together with Hernández, RosterResource calculates the Dodgers’ luxurious tax quantity round $353M pending the deferral specifics. They’re properly past the $301M mark that represents the ultimate tier of penalization. They’re taxed at a 110% charge on the ultimate AAV. Re-signing Hernández will seemingly value them upwards of $40M subsequent yr after taxes. The Dodgers have been undeterred by the CBT as they push for a repeat.
Hernández had declined a qualifying supply. Different groups would have wanted to forfeit a draft option to signal him. The Dodgers solely relinquish the correct to obtain a 2025 compensation choose, which might have come after the fourth spherical. The Blue Jays and Pink Sox had additionally been linked to Hernández this winter. These golf equipment (particularly Toronto) may flip to Anthony Santander, who stands because the clear prime unsigned outfielder. Jurickson Profar is a tier or two beneath that because the next-best outfield bat.
Yancen Pujols first reported that Hernández and the Dodgers had been finalizing a three-year, $66M deal. Chris Cotillo of MassLive confirmed there was an settlement in place. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the $15M choice for 2028, in addition to the signing bonus and the approximate $23M in deferrals.
