Teoscar Hernández was among the Los Angeles Dodgers' most valuable hitters in their march to the World Series championship in 2024.
After signing a one-year contract with Los Angeles in Dec. 2023, Hernandez hit 33 home runs in the regular season, became an All-Star for the second time in his career, and became the first Dodgers player ever to win a Home Run Derby in July.
In a short span, Hernández became a beloved player among the Dodgers' passionate fan base. He has expressed mutual interest in returning.
"The Dodgers will be my priority in free agency. I will do whatever is possible to return. It's not in my hands, but if it were I'd pick them," Hernandez said on ESPN Deportes after the Dodgers clinched the World Series with a 7-6 win over the New York Yankees on Oct. 3.
The Dodgers extended a qualifying offer — a one-year, $21.05 million contract for 2025 — earlier this week. However, Hernández is expected to reject the offer and command a multi-year deal in free agency.
The Dodgers won't be alone in their pursuit of Hernández. A new report suggests two teams already have shown interest in the free agent outfielder, if he declines his qualifying offer as expected.
Teoscar Hernández is drawing interest from the Red Sox and Orioles in free agency, sources say. Other clubs are involved, too. Baltimore and Boston have similar needs for right-handed power. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 7, 2024Hernández is drawing interest from the Red Sox and Orioles in free agency, sources told Jon Morosi of MLB Network (who relayed the news via Twitter/X). Other clubs are involved, too, Morosi notes, as Baltimore and Boston "have similar needs for right-handed power."
Hernandez, who turned 32 in October, is a career .263/.320/.488 hitter over parts of nine seasons (2016-24) with the Dodgers, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners.
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After a down year with Seattle in 2024, Hernández turned down multi-year offers as a free agent last winter hoping to rebound on a short-term deal with the Dodgers. The bet paid off handsomely.
Hernández saw increases in home runs (26 to 33), RBIs (93 to 99), batting average (.258 to .272), on-base percentage (.305 to .339), slugging percentage (.435 to .501) and even stolen bases (7 to 12) with the Dodgers.
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Los Angeles general manager Brandon Gomes told reporters at the GM Meetings in San Antonio that Mookie Betts figures to move back to the infield in 2025. That suggests the Dodgers are in the market to add to, not subtract from, their supply of corner outfielders this winter.
Expect the Dodgers to be aggressive in their pursuit of Hernández if they are unwilling or unable to lure free agent Juan Soto to Los Angeles this winter.
More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports.
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