Is Teoscar Hernández bound to cash in this offseason?
The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder has emerged as one of the Dodgers’ most valuable additions this season, even amidst an offseason in which the Dodgers spent over a billion on stars including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. He also came at a bargain price — the Dodgers signed Hernandez on just a one-year, $23.5 million contract.
This one-year deal does mean that Hernández is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season comes to an end. After a season in which he hit .269 and made his second MLB All-Star Game, Hernandez is a prime candidate to earn an extension.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today told Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation he believes that Hernández is in for a huge payday in free agency this offseason.
“I don’t see why not, a five-year deal for over $100 million,” Nightengale told McKain. “Everybody’s looking for guys who can slug and he’s one of them. He’s proven it. Seattle messed up by not giving him the qualifying offer. I think the Dodgers will kind of set a price, just like they did with other guys whether it’s (Corey) Seager or somebody else. ‘We’re willing to go to this, if (the contract demand) is higher than that we’ll look elsewhere.’ He fit in nicely. They love the job he’s done. It’s hard to find those guys. Why not bring him back?”
The question will of course be whether Hernández signs that deserved extension with the Dodgers, or a different team. Hernández has remained clear that he wants to stay with the Dodgers, but knows the decision is not fully up to him.
“I want to stay,” Hernández said earlier this month, via Doug McKain. “I think everybody knows it. I want to be a part of this team for 3,4,5 years to come, but it’s not in my hands. It has to do with the Dodgers. It’s in their hands. I’m just trying to do my best.”
Overall, Hernández has slashed .269/.335/.493 with 150 hits, 81 runs, 30 home runs, and 92 RBIs. He has recorded his second season with 30 home runs and is within two home runs of his career-high.
