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Teoscar Hernández and the Dodgers reach an agreement
The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their impressive offseason with a late Sunday night announcement that they have reached a one-year, $23.5 million contract agreement with All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández, sources confirmed to MLB.com. The club has not officially confirmed the deal.
Despite earlier additions like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Manuel Margot, the Dodgers sought a right-handed-hitting outfielder capable of batting against lefties and holding his own against right-handed pitching.
Teoscar Hernández emerged as an early target for the Dodgers this offseason. Despite receiving two-year offers from the Red Sox and Angels, Hernández opted for a one-year contract with the Dodgers. The decision was influenced by the prospect of being part of one of the top offenses in Major League Baseball, potentially the best.
Known for his consistent power, Hernández is among the select players to hit at least 25 home runs in the past four full seasons. Although he hit 26 home runs with the Mariners in 2023, his performance didn’t quite meet the expectations set by his previous seasons, where he received MVP votes and earned Silver Slugger honors in 2020 and 2021.
Teoscar Hernández has consistently demonstrated proficiency in hitting left-handed pitching throughout his career, boasting .887 OPS against southpaws. As a Dodger, Hernández is expected to receive most starts in right field against left-handers and transition to left field when facing right-handers, especially with Mookie Betts likely seeing significant playing time at second base. Chris Taylor will also contribute as a utility player this season.
With Hernández now part of the roster, it is unlikely that the Dodgers will make additional additions to their position player lineup this winter. Although the club has explored shortstop options, particularly in trade discussions with the Brewers for Willy Adames, no concrete developments have surfaced.
Despite a slight dip in performance with a 105 wRC+ during his stint with the Mariners after consistently registering a wRC+ of 130 or better in his final three years with the Blue Jays, Hernández remains a valuable addition. His expected weighted on-base average has declined for the third consecutive year, reaching .336, and his .741 OPS in 2023 was the lowest since his debut season with the Astros in 2016, where he had just 100 at-bats before being traded to the Blue Jays.
Teoscar Hernández has historically not been known for his plate discipline, a particularly pronounced trend in the last season. His chase rate reached a career-worst 35.2%, and he posted a career-low 5.6% walk rate against a high 31.1% strikeout rate. Hernández’s 211 strikeouts and 35.8% whiff rate were among the highest in the league among qualified players.
Despite his struggles with plate discipline, Hernández displayed significant power when making contact. His impressive 49.4% hard-hit rate and 13.8% barrel rate reflect his ability to hit the ball hard. He excelled against four-seam fastballs, boasting a .302 average, a .659 slugging percentage, and an exceptionally high 72.4% hard-hit rate.
While not considered an elite defender, Hernández contributes value in the outfield, particularly with his strong and accurate arm in right field. His 12 assists last season were tied for the third-most among all outfielders, and his 22 assists over the past two seasons rank second only to Lane Thomas of the Nationals.
Hernández’s most productive full season occurred in 2021 when he hit 32 home runs, drove in 116, and compiled an impressive .296/.346/.524 slash line with the Toronto Blue Jays.
