The Los Angeles Dodgers are chasing history after back-to-back World Series titles, but one of the most emotionally charged questions of the offseason centers on a familiar face.
Enrique “Kiké” Hernández, the longtime fan favorite and October mainstay, is once again a free agent. His future with the Dodgers remains unresolved, complicated by recent elbow surgery—but not diminished by doubt about his value.
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Friedman: “We’ll Never Shut the Door”
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During the Winter Meetings, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman addressed Hernández’s status directly, making it clear the relationship is far from over.
“We’ll never shut the door on Kiké,” Friedman told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain. “The value he provides on the field with his versatility, the value he provides in the clubhouse. He’s got to do what’s best, but we’ll see how that plays out.”
It was a measured response, but one consistent with how the Dodgers have handled Hernández throughout his career: pragmatically, but with appreciation for everything he brings beyond the box score.
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Youth, Depth, and a Familiar Compromise
The Dodgers have already begun shaping their bench by re-signing Miguel Rojas to a one-year deal, signaling a desire to balance experience with youth. According to McKain, that same logic applies to Hernández.
“The Dodgers are interested in re-signing Kiké Hernández after they re-signed Miguel Rojas, but they do want to infuse that bench with some youth,” McKain said. “All signs point to Kiké Hernández being back with the Dodgers… You just have to wait towards Spring Training when that 60-day IL opens up.”
It’s a familiar compromise—retain the heartbeat of the clubhouse, but allow flexibility as younger players emerge.
Playing Through Pain — And Paying the Price
Hernández’s free agency comes with added medical uncertainty. The 34-year-old utility man underwent surgery on his left elbow after playing through the injury for much of the 2025 season. What initially appeared to be a minor procedure turned out to be far more serious.
“They went in thinking it was going to be an extensor release, and when they went in, they realized I had torn that thing completely off the bone,” Hernández said during an appearance on Baseball & Coffee with Adam Ottavino. “So it turned out to be an extensor repair. I’ll be out for, like, a month or two next year.”
That timeline means Hernández is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season and potentially all of spring training, a factor that likely pushes his signing later into the offseason.
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October Still Belongs to Kiké
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Despite the injury, Hernández once again delivered when it mattered most.
He appeared in all 17 of the Dodgers’ playoff games, hitting .250/.290/.359 with one home run and seven RBI. More importantly, he made several game-altering defensive plays, including a pivotal double play in Game 6 of the World Series that helped preserve Los Angeles’s championship hopes.
It has become a familiar pattern. Hernández struggled during stretches of the regular season, finishing with a .203 batting average, but flipped a switch in October—something few players have consistently done better over the past decade.
For a team built to contend every year, that postseason reliability carries real weight.
Diaz Signing Sparks a Familiar Reaction
Even while recovering from surgery and technically unemployed, Hernández has made it clear where his heart remains.
After the Dodgers signed All-Star closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal, Hernández posted a blunt reaction on Instagram:
“F AROUND AND FIND OUT!!!”
It was classic Kiké—equal parts humor, defiance, and message-sending. Free agents typically avoid telegraphing allegiance, but Hernández has never operated that way. His excitement over the move only reinforced what Dodgers fans already believe: he wants to be part of a potential three-peat.
His social media activity has followed a familiar pattern as well. In previous offseasons before re-signing with Los Angeles, Hernández changed his profile picture to a question-mark Dodgers cap. This winter, his profile photo shows him in Dodgers gear holding the World Series trophy.
The message is unmistakable.
Roster Questions and Possible Insurance
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Still, the Dodgers must plan responsibly.
With Hernández sidelined early in 2026, Los Angeles has explored ways to protect its depth. ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently floated the idea of the Dodgers acquiring Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan, writing that the market for him is “percolating” and listing Los Angeles as a top suitor.
Donovan, 28, is coming off a career year in which he hit .287 with a .353 on-base percentage while playing multiple positions. He would offer immediate coverage across the infield and outfield—but even that possibility doesn’t diminish Hernández’s unique place within the organization.
Any addition would likely be viewed as insurance, not a replacement.
Why This Feels Inevitable
Hernández brings something the Dodgers cannot easily replace: postseason confidence, defensive versatility, and an emotional connection to the fanbase that transcends numbers.
He has won three World Series titles, played through significant pain, and repeatedly delivered in the sport’s biggest moments. The injury may delay the timeline, but it has not altered the relationship.
If the Dodgers do complete a historic three-peat in 2026, it’s hard to imagine doing it without Kiké Hernández involved—question mark or not.