Should the Los Angeles Dodgers pursue him this offseason?
As the Dodgers’ offseason gets underway, there will be plenty of rumors flying around. This winter, LA will be in contact with a variety of players, so it’s important to keep an eye on who the team is interested in.
According to the latest rumors, the Dodgers may be looking for a former American League All-Star to fill a role. Teoscar Hernandez is a former Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder.
The Mariners did not extend Hernandez a qualifying offer this offseason, making it even more likely that the Dodgers will pursue him. He spent the previous season with Seattle after spending several years in Toronto, including his All-Star season in 2021.
Hernandez hit.258 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs last season. For the Mariners, he had a 2.1 WAR and a.741 OPS.
While he did have a down year in 2023, he is still not far from his All-Star season. He hit.296 with 32 home runs and 116 RBI in 2021, so he might be able to replicate that level of production if he joins the Dodgers and is surrounded by talent.
Despite striking out a lot, he is an above-average hitter with poor player discipline at times. Hernandez isn’t a Gold Glove candidate on defense, but he has improved over the years.
Hernandez could be a viable option for the Dodgers, depending on the cost of acquiring his services. He earned $14 million with Seattle last season, so he could be looking for something in that range.
LA appears to be looking for a corner outfielder this offseason, especially if David Peralta and Jason Heyward both leave. Hernandez could fill the role while also providing the Dodgers with a solid right-handed hitter who can mash the ball.
The Dodgers could do worse than Hernandez, and it appears that they plan to improve their roster this season. This will be something to keep an eye on in the future, and perhaps we’ll see Hernandez in Dodger Blue next season.
