Teoscar Hernández Free Agency Update: Dodgers continue offseason spree with All-Star's acquisition on a one-year $23,500,000 contract
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be busy in the offseason as the NL West side have reportedly signed All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández on a year, $23.5 million deal.
The Dodgers were one of the teams heavily linked with the former Seattle Mariners player as they needed to bolster the outfield after the big-name acquisitions of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow in the offseason.
ESPN's Jeff Passan was the first to break the news of the reported deal on Sunday. Much like the ground-breaking deal for Ohtani, the Dodgers have opted for a deferred contract for the 31-year-old. Hernandez will be paid $8.5 million as the deferred amount from 2030 to 2039.
"Of the $23.5 million in Teoscar Hernández's deal with the Dodgers, $8.5 million will be deferred, to be paid out from 2030 to 2039, sources tell ESPN. The corner-outfield market is tough, and Hernández opted for a big one-year deal with the best team over other multiyear offers." - Jeff Passan
The former Houston Astros OF has not been at his productive best in the last couple of seasons but a 26 home run season with the Mariners last year was enough to attract the interest of the high-spending Dodgers.
He will be sharing the workload with the Japanese two-way phenom, who is more than likely to see out the next season as a designated hitter as his elbow surgery is expected to limit the pitching role.
Teoscar Hernández could be JD Martinez's ideal replacement for the Dodgers
The two-time Silver Slugger winner was on the radar of the 2020 World Series winners after veteran OF JD Martinez became a free agent. Hernandez could be a potential replacement for the six-time MLB All-Star linked with a reunion with the Detroit Tigers.
Hernandez's signing is more evidence of the Dave Roberts-led team's aspirations to make a strong run in the 2024 postseason after failing to live up to their regular season form this year.