The Dodgers and Crimson Sox have been beforehand linked to Teoscar Hernandez’s market earlier this offseason, and MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reviews that the Yankees are additionally wanting on the free agent slugger. The three suitors all have “severe curiosity” in Hernandez’s companies, with one noteworthy caveat — all three golf equipment are within the working to land Juan Soto, so Hernandez is considered because the pure backup plan for all events if Soto can’t be signed.
The Mets and Blue Jays are the 2 different groups identified to nonetheless be pursuing Soto. In the mean time, all 5 groups appear to be nonetheless be into consideration even when the Mets and Yankees have reportedly pushed the bidding up into the vary of $710-$730MM. Los Angeles is regarded as the least aggressive of Soto’s 5 suitors and maybe appears extra more likely to break free from the pack to pivot in the direction of Hernandez or an alternative choice, however Cotillo figures Hernandez gained’t make his personal resolution till after Soto indicators.
Hernandez has brazenly stated that returning to the Dodgers is “the precedence” of his offseason, and “I’m going to do every part in my energy to return again….It feels nice to be a part of this.” After a down 12 months with the Mariners in 2023, Hernandez rebounded in the very best manner by successful a World Collection and hitting .272/.339/.501 with 33 residence runs over 652 plate appearances with L.A. final season. Hernandez inked a one-year, $23.5MM contract final winter and now appears to be like poised to land a a lot heftier multi-year deal this time round.
As sources inform Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (X hyperlink), Hernandez’s choice continues to be to stay with Los Angeles, although the Crimson Sox have a stable case in their very own proper for the slugger’s companies. The Sox made a push for Hernandez final 12 months in providing him a two-year, $28MM deal that Hernandez turned down so as to take the better flexibility of the Dodgers’ one-year provide, plus L.A. was the extra clear-cut contender heading into 2024. Hernandez “has lengthy been intrigued by the thought of taking part in at Fenway Park and he’s a fan of Alex Cora,” Abraham writes, so with a World Collection ring now in tow, Hernandez might now discover a transfer to Boston and maybe an enormous function in a future Crimson Sox championship workforce.
The Yankees shouldn’t be ignored as contenders, as Hernandez has additionally loved plenty of success at Yankee Stadium over time. New York might need probably the most incentive of all these groups to bolster the lineup if Soto departs, even when including an enormous bat within the infield can be a precedence since Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo are free brokers and unlikely to return.
Rejecting the Dodgers’ qualifying provide in all probability gained’t have a lot influence on Hernandez’s market, although the Yankees and Crimson Sox would face a differing penalty stage for signing the outfielder (or any participant who rejected a QO). As a result of New York was a luxurious tax payor in 2024, signing Hernandez would price the Yankees $1MM in worldwide bonus pool cash and their second- and fifth-highest picks within the 2025 draft. Boston must quit $500K of int’l pool funds and their second-highest 2025 draft choose. Los Angeles, after all, wouldn’t have to surrender something to signal Hernandez, as he is likely one of the Dodgers’ personal free brokers.
