The Dodgers have introduced Teoscar Hernández again on a three-year deal. The Republik Sports activities shopper is reportedly assured $66MM, together with a $23MM signing bonus. There’s a bit greater than $23MM in deferred cash, whereas the deal features a $15MM crew possibility 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 perfect end result 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 provide he’d been looking for. Whereas the Purple Sox provided him a two-year deal that might’ve include a $28MM assure, he signed for one season on a deferred $23.5MM wage with the purpose of reestablishing his market worth.
It couldn’t have labored out a lot better for both aspect. Hernández had among the finest seasons of his profession. He earned his second All-Star nod and Silver Slugger award whereas selecting up down poll MVP votes for the third time. Hernández established a brand new profession excessive in dwelling runs with price stats that had been in step 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 dwelling 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 almost 2700 journeys to the plate. There’ll be an honest variety of strikeouts, however few gamers hit the ball as exhausting as he does. Hernández is an annual risk for 30+ doubles and a minimum of 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, $17MM contract on the Winter Conferences. No different crew rivals the efficiency of the L.A. lineup.
The Dodgers are taking up some threat from a defensive perspective. Regardless of plus arm energy and surprisingly sturdy athleticism, Hernández has by no means graded as a very good defender. That continued this season. Defensive Runs Saved felt he was three runs beneath par in his 1308 mixed innings between the nook outfield spots. Statcast rated him far more harshly, estimating he was 11 runs beneath common.
Hernández isn’t possible 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 possibility on a crew with Ohtani. The Dodgers are shifting Betts to shortstop and can 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 children Andy Pages and James Outman. The latter appears like a change of surroundings candidate after a disappointing second MLB season. The Dodgers will most likely be much less inclined to maneuver the 24-year-old Pages, who had a league common .248/.305/.407 exhibiting as a rookie. He nonetheless has a minor league possibility 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 a minimum of attempt to pull him away through commerce, although L.A. might desire 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.
Initially of the offseason, MLBTR predicted Hernández would obtain a three-year deal at $60MM. He’ll land barely above that forecast in uncooked cash, although the deferrals will cut back the online current worth to some extent. A 3-year, $66MM deal with out deferrals would include a $22MM aggressive stability tax hit. Hernández’s quantity will find yourself a bit beneath that. The precise 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 $353MM pending the deferral specifics. They’re effectively past the $301MM mark that represents the ultimate tier of penalization. They’re taxed at a 110% price on the ultimate AAV. Re-signing Hernández will possible value them upwards of $40MM subsequent yr after taxes. The Dodgers have been undeterred by the CBT as they push for a repeat.
Hernández had declined a qualifying provide. Different groups would have wanted to forfeit a draft option to signal him. The Dodgers solely relinquish the best to obtain a 2025 compensation decide, which might have come after the fourth spherical. The Blue Jays and Purple Sox had additionally been linked to Hernández this winter. These golf equipment (particularly Toronto) might flip to Anthony Santander, who stands because the clear high 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, $66MM deal. Chris Cotillo of MassLive confirmed there was an settlement in place. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the $15MM possibility for 2028, in addition to the signing bonus and the approximate $23MM in deferrals.
Picture courtesy of Imagn.
