LOS ANGELES, CA—During the 2024 Major League Baseball offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers struck gold in their one-year prove-it deal for former Seattle Mariners outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who was a pivotal member of their 2024 World Series-winning squad.
Hernández was an All-Star, the first Dodgers Home Run Derby Champion, and hit plenty of clutch home runs, helping Los Angeles win its first full-season World Series title since 1988.
That earned Hernández a much-deserved multi-year deal, and the Dodgers obliged by inking the fan favorite to a 3-year, $66 million contract that also includes a $15 million club option for 2028.
Now, two years into that deal, the Dodgers are likely to consider trading Hernández, especially with a plethora of young outfield depth waiting for an opportunity, with Josue De Paula and James Tibbs III knocking at the door.
Although the Dodgers won the 2025 World Series, securing the first back-to-back championships in franchise history, Hernández also delivered some solid production during their postseason run. However, the first two years of his contract have looked much more like his 2023 season than his breakout 2024 campaign.
Since Opening Day 2025, Hernández has slashed .256/.308/.441 with 41 home runs across 1,037 plate appearances, good for a 105 wRC+. In 2026, he improved his batting average and walk rate compared to 2025, though his 8.6% walk rate remained below league average. Meanwhile, his power took a step back.
Still, Hernández hit well to start the 2026 season, but as age factored in, the right-handed power hitter suffered a setback, with a hamstring strain sidelining him from the end of May until the end of June.
That IL stint set up a massive slump for Hernández before he made the necessary adjustment late in the season and got back on track, posting a 1.015 OPS over the final month.
Hernández will enter his age-34 season as a semi-above-league-average hitter with below-average defense and clutch moments; he’d be respectable even for a star-studded Los Angeles lineup, but the team may be inclined to trade him for two reasons: the emergence of Josue De Paula and a thin postseason player-free-agent market.
At 21, De Paula made his MLB debut in September, replacing the injured Shohei Ohtani, and immediately impressed with a 1.081 OPS across his first 41 plate appearances. He also showed patience in limited postseason action, drawing two walks in three pinch-hit appearances. The Dodgers thought highly enough of De Paula to promote him directly from Double-A, and while he could begin 2027 with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he may not have much left to prove against minor league pitching.
His outfield defense remains a question, though some evaluators believe he could eventually settle into a designated hitter role. However, with Ohtani occupying the DH spot and Kyle Tucker in right field, left field stands out as De Paula’s clearest path to earning an extended opportunity in the majors.
The Dodgers could also pursue a platoon in left field for Hernández’s final year, as the right-handed hitter hit extremely well against left-handed pitching in 2026, posting a 148 wRC+ against southpaws last year.
Hernández’s Contract Could Make Him an Attractive Trade Target
Teoscar Hernández’s contract could make him a more appealing trade target than many of the free-agent outfielders available this offseason. He is set to earn $14.5 million in 2027, though $8 million of that salary is deferred until at least 2031. Factoring in his $6.5 million salary and the $6.5 million buyout on his 2028 club option, Hernández effectively carries a $13 million price tag for next season.
For a 34-year-old veteran coming off a 110 wRC+ season, that is a reasonable price for a bat capable of providing power and production in the middle of a lineup. Teams unwilling to pay a premium for higher-profile free agents such as Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki, or Teruaki Sato could view Hernández as a more affordable alternative with proven major league experience. His contract also shouldn’t require the Dodgers to absorb salary to facilitate a trade, while moving him would give Los Angeles additional flexibility to address other roster needs.
Several clubs could make sense as potential suitors, including the Mariners, Braves, Phillies, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles, Royals, Astros, Rangers, and Cubs. The Padres, Giants and Diamondbacks could also use outfield help, though the Dodgers may be reluctant to strengthen a division rival. Ultimately, Hernández’s combination of power, experience, and a relatively manageable financial commitment could make him an attractive option for teams that don’t love the alternatives on the free-agent market.
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Cody Snavely has been the co-editor of DodgersBeat and full-time host of the Bleed Los Podcast since February 2023. He has also written for multiple websites, such as Dodgers Way, Dodgers Low-Down, and Dodgers Tailgate. A Wilmington University graduate, Snavely is an avid Dodgers fan who uses his advanced baseball knowledge to keep fans updated on the latest storylines, rumors, and opinions on Dodgers baseball.
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