Dodgers, Teoscar Hernandez Have Not Had Extension Talks as Free Agency Looms

Teoscar Hernández informed reporters last week that the Dodgers have not engaged in any in-season extension talks with him, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Hernández appears unfazed by the absence of discussions, stating that he’s concentrating on the current season and hasn’t spent much time thinking about free agency.

Hernández has enjoyed a strong rebound on a one-year contract, smashing a career-high 33 home runs across 652 plate appearances. His .272/.339/.501 slash line with Los Angeles reflects the performance he had during his best years with the Toronto Blue Jays. In contrast, his lackluster .258/.305/.435 numbers from 2023 with the Seattle Mariners seem like an outlier, largely due to the challenges he faced in Seattle’s pitcher-friendly ballpark.

Hernández’s rough season with the Mariners significantly impacted his market a year ago.

He clearly struggled to find a multi-year deal that appealed to him. In July, he revealed to Rob Bradford of WEEI that the Red Sox had offered him a two-year, $28 million contract.

However, Hernández wasn’t keen on committing to multiple years at a reduced average annual value of $14 million. Instead, he opted for a deal with the Dodgers worth $23.5 million, though he only received $15 million this year. The remaining $8.5 million will be paid out in 10 installments from 2030 to 2039.

The outfielder gambled on himself and it paid off.

He has been a perfect fit in the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse and he has had one of the best seasons of his career which included an All-Star selection and winning the Home Run Derby.

He’ll head back into free agency in a stronger position than last year.

The Dodgers could extend him a qualifying offer, but it’s likely he’d turn down that $21 million-plus salary while looking for a long-term contract. With his 32nd birthday coming up next month, he’ll probably be looking at a maximum of three or four years in any new deal.

Dodgers fans and his teammates would love to keep him around long-term but the Dodgers front office also wants to keep a spot on the roster for rookie outfielder Andy Pages. Los Angeles will most likely make him an offer after the season ends but will it be enough for him to stick around?

Photo Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

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