Cody Snavely
The Major League Baseball Players Association has announced the decision of the players who were offered the $21.05 million qualifying offer, with today being the deadline.
Of the thirteen players whose clubs extended the qualifying offer, only one accepted: Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez. The rest of the group declined, including Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
It is not surprising that Hernández declined the one-year offer from the Dodgers as the now thirty-two-year-old outfielder took a one-year prove-it contract with the Dodgers last offseason after not getting the desired multi-year offers he had hoped to see during his first rodeo in free agency.
In the end, the move by Hernández and his agent Rafa Nieves has likely paid off as Hernández is one of the best hitters on the market this winter and should have no problem getting a multi-year deal from various clubs, including a possible reunion with the Dodgers.
In his lone year in Dodger Blue, Hernández became a fan favorite and had a career-year hitting .272/.339/.501, a .840 OPS, and a 134 wRC+ while also hitting a career-high in home runs with thirty-three and driving in ninety-nine runs.
With his performance, Hernández also made the 2024 All-Star Game as a starter, became the first Los Angeles Dodger player to win the Home Run Derby, and was instrumental in the Dodgers’ eighth World Series title.
With the Dodgers’ rumored interest in Juan Soto and the two sides meeting this week in Southern California, a reunion will likely have to wait until Soto signs his contract, with multiple MLB insiders hinting at a possible December decision.
With Hernández declining the qualifying offer, the Dodgers will receive a complimentary draft pick if he does leave for another team in free agency. Still, a reunion between both parties should be a top priority for Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes.
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