Cody Snavely
It finally happened! After weeks of rumored back and forth between the Los Angeles Dodgers and fan-favorite Teoscar Hernández, the sides have reportedly agreed on a contract for Teo to return to Dodger Blue.
According to Moises Fabian, the Los Angeles Dodgers have re-signed Teoscar Hernández to a 3-year, $66 million contract.
However, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the deal also includes a fourth-year option for $15 million, along with around $23 million deferred and a $23 million signing bonus.
After struggling in Seattle at notorious pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park, Hernández took a one-year prove-it deal despite having a multi-year offer from the Boston Red Sox. And prove himself he shall.
The 2024 season was one of the best years of his nine-year career. Hernández had a .272/.339/.501 slash line, 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 for Los Angeles.
His excellent play in the first half of the 2024 Major League Baseball regular season earned him a starting spot in the mid-summer classic, his second career all-star nod. He also participated in the home run derby, becoming the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the event.
When it came to October, Hernández was an invaluable part of the Dodgers’ dominant offense, hitting .250/.352/.417 with critical home runs in game five of the National League Division Series to push the Dodgers’ lead further off San Diego Padres veteran right-handed starter Yu Darvish and a game-tying two-out double off Gerrit Cole in game five of the World Series.
Hernández and his camp frequently made it known that the 2024 all-star wanted to remain in Los Angeles. Shortly after the World Series parade in Los Angeles, Hernández himself stated it was his main goal when entering the offseason. But Hernández did play well enough that he could get a massive payday to cash in on.
That said, it was a no-brainer that the Dodgers offered Hernández the 1-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer that Hernández declined.
After weeks of rumors and potential delays, largely due to the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Dodgers, and standing pat at their initial offer, the two sides were finally able to agree on a contract.
Dodgers insider David Vassegh of AM570 prematurely reported during the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas, that the two sides were close to a deal before Ken Rosenthal later debunked all of that.
Still, in an interview with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts earlier this month on the Bleed Los YouTube channel, the skipper shared a similar sentiment that talks were close between both sides.
Despite spending well over one billion dollars last offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers, led by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and Cheif Executive Officer Stan Kasten, kept their word to two-way star Shohei Ohtani in trying to continue building a winning team.
So far this offseason, the Dodgers have re-signed outfielder Teoscar Hernández and right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen, added left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell and outfielder Michael Conforto, and extended utilityman Tommy Edman.
Despite all that, the Dodgers are still not finished. They will also be big players in the Rōki Sasaki market, keeping tags on remaining free agents such as veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw and fellow utilityman Kiké Hernández.
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