The Los Angeles Dodgers are shopping outfielder Teoscar Hernandez this winter, but general manager Brandon Gomes said it was unlikely the team would trade the 33-year-old.
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“Obviously, you can never say never on those kinds of things … but that’s not something we anticipate at all,” Gomes said at the Winter Meetings.
However, that hasn’t stopped teams from showing interest in Hernandez. According to The Athletic’s Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya, the outfielder has gained interest from a surprise American League team.
“The Dodgers continue to ‘kick the tires’ on trading Teoscar Hernández, a league source said, though general manager Brandon Gomes said Monday that trading the right fielder ‘doesn’t feel likely.’ Still, the Dodgers might feel inclined to deal Hernández, whose defense declined last year, to free up roster space. The Kansas City Royals have coveted an offense-first outfielder, and have interest in Hernández, a league source said,” Woo and Ardaya write.
The Dodgers are looking to sharpen their weaknesses from 2025, and one such area LA can improve on is defense. In terms of Hernandez, he graded as one of the worst outfielders in MLB.
He recorded a minus-9 fielding run value as well as a minus-9 outs above average, which put him in the bottom six percent of outfield defense. The upside to Hernandez has always been his bat, but he also had a down year offensively.
In 2025, Hernandez posted a .738 OPS after hitting a career-high 33 homers the previous season with the Dodgers. After being an All-Star and winning the Home Run Derby in 2024, Hernandez didn’t meet expectations in 2025.
While the Dodgers are including Hernandez in trade conversations, his departure would intensify LA’s need for outfield depth.
Manager Dave Roberts recently spoke about Hernandez and where he fits on the Dodgers roster heading into 2026.
“Teo certainly fits, he’s helped us win two championships. He’s one of my favorites,” Roberts said of Hernandez.
“Could he move to left? Potentially, but I will say, from my eye test, the last game in Colorado, the last time we were in Denver, from that point on his right field defense was at least average. And so for me, that was sufficient with the bat potential. I do think that with the versatility potentially and how we shape this roster there are some options.
“But right now, he’s our right fielder.”
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