The Los Angeles Dodgers and Teoscar Hernández finally worked things out.
After a brilliant 2024 season in his Dodgers debut, it was clear Hernández didn’t want to leave. The 32-year-old had just made the All-Star Game, won the Home Run Derby, picked up a Silver Slugger Award, and most importantly, seized his first World Series ring.
As obvious as it was that both the Dodgers and Hernández wanted a reunion, nothing was coming to fruition early on in free agency. The Dodgers even signed a different corner outfielder, Michael Conforto, on a one-year contract.
Meanwhile, teams that needed sluggers, like the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, began sniffing around.
It was reported last week that Hernández was seeking a three-year contract between $22 million and $24 million per year. It seemed like a reasonable price, given the $23 million he made in 2024, but the Dodgers weren’t immediately jumping at the chance to sign him,
However, sign him they did, at exactly the price he was requesting.
On Friday, Hernández and the Dodgers agreed on a contract of three years, $66 million, with a fourth-year player option for $15 million. Hernández is due to receive a $23 million signing bonus, with just over $23 million in deferrals.
Dominican reporter Yancen Pujols was the first to report the signing, with Jeff Passan of ESPN confirming the details of the agreement.
In 2024, Hernández slashed .272/.339/.501, with a career-high 33 home runs and 99 RBI. He was an ideal cleanup hitter behind the Dodgers’ three future Hall of Famers, and now, he’ll stay in that comfort zone.
The Dodgers didn’t need Hernández to be considered World Series favorites. But they got him back anyway, and now their odds are simply that much better.
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