Even as the Los Angeles Dodgers continue shaping a roster aimed at a third consecutive championship, the front office is leaving no stone unturned. That includes at least entertaining the idea of parting ways with a player who has been central to their power production: Teoscar Hernández.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Hernández’s name “is coming up in trade conversations, according to league sources,” though the Dodgers still view a deal as “unlikely.” As Rosenthal put it, “the idea of it, at least, is not without logic.”
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A Complicated Profile for 2026 Fuels Dodgers Trade Rumors
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Hernández, now 33, remains one of the Dodgers’ most dangerous offensive weapons. He clubbed 25 home runs and 89 RBIs in 2025 and added five postseason homers, continuing his reputation as a big-moment threat. But the underlying trends point to inconsistency. His .247/.284/.454 line was his weakest since becoming a regular, and his 4.8% walk rate dipped well below league average. Defensive metrics paint an even sharper contrast: Statcast graded him at negative-9 Outs Above Average, placing his range in the third percentile among MLB outfielders.
The Dodgers also cannot hide him at designated hitter—not with Shohei Ohtani locked into that spot long-term.
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Money Matters, Too
Hernández is in the second season of a three-year, $66 million contract with deferred money stretching into the next decade. He’s owed $12 million in 2026 and $14.5 million in 2027, with an additional $6.5 million buyout tied to a 2028 club option. It’s a sizable commitment for a corner outfielder whose value is increasingly tied to home-run output.
Still, Hernández has delivered across his six years in Los Angeles, hitting .263 with 129 home runs and serving as a key piece on two championship teams. That track record ensures interest, even if the Dodgers are only listening.
What a Trade Could Open Up
If the Dodgers were to move Hernández, they could shift their focus toward a more athletic, defensively oriented outfielder. Rosenthal and others have reported internal interest in players such as Steven Kwan, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, or even Brendan Donovan. Meanwhile, Jon Morosi noted that Los Angeles is “actively courting” former MVP Cody Bellinger, hinting that the club might be open to reshaping the outfield entirely.
For now, Hernández remains a Dodger—and likely will. But the mere fact that his name has entered the winter conversation underscores how aggressively Los Angeles continues to operate as it chases yet another title.
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