Negotiations between the Dodgers and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez remain at an impasse, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. While L.A. and Hernandez have long expressed mutual interest in a reunion following a successful 2024 campaign that ended in a World Series championship, previous reporting indicated a “gap” remained between the sides in negotiations. Evidently, that gap remains, as Rosenthal reports that Los Angeles brass are “exploring” right-handed alternatives to Hernandez they could add to their lineup instead. The three names Rosenthal lists as potential options for the Dodgers are free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, and White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Rosenthal emphasizes, however, that it’s not yet clear how serious the Dodgers are about those pursuits.
Of the three names floated, Suzuki is perhaps the best replacement for Hernandez from the Dodgers’ perspective. He hit .283/.366/.482 with 21 homers and 16 steals in 132 games for the Cubs last year. His high on-base percentage and lesser power make him a somewhat different flavor of hitter than Hernandez, but Suzuki’s 138 wRC+ actually has the edge over Hernandez’s own figure of 134. Both are generally regarded as below-average defenders in an outfield corner, but either one would provide the Dodgers with a big right-handed bat to add to their lineup and a regular for the outfield corner not occupied by Michael Conforto.
Good a fit as Suzuki would be, however, acquiring him may be easier said than done. Rosenthal reports that the Cubs are “not inclined” to trade Suzuki this winter. The club entered the offseason with something of a logjam in the outfield due to the presence of both Suzuki and Cody Bellinger, and that logjam only grew when the club added star right fielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Astros earlier this month. Since then, the Cubs dealt Bellinger to the Yankees. While that leaves them in a similar situation as the one they entered the winter in, with two right fielders on the roster and Suzuki likely relegated to regular DH duties, the club still seems to prefer keeping Suzuki rather than parting ways with the talented hitter.
Rosenthal suggests that the Cubs feel that Suzuki would be difficult to replace due to a thin market for impactful right-handed hitters. Aside from Suzuki, the middle of Chicago’s lineup is occupied by switch-hitter Ian Happ as well as lefty bats Tucker and Michael Busch, so Suzuki’s presence adds some much-needed right-handed thump to that mix. Suzuki also holds a no-trade clause, but his previously reported desire to avoid being a full-time DH could make the possibility of a trade that would make him L.A.’s regular right fielder a palatable option. Speculatively speaking, it’s possible that the Dodgers could include a talented right-handed bat such as Andy Pages in a package for Suzuki’s services in order to bridge that gap, though six seasons of team control over Pages would be a steep price to pay. Suzuki is under contract for two more seasons and will make $19MM in both 2025 and ’26 before hitting free agency.
Robert, meanwhile, certainly has the potential to match Hernandez’s offensive impact but has yet to demonstrate consistency in the majors. The 27-year-old endured the worst season of his career in 2024 as he hit just .224/.278/.379 (84 wRC+) while striking out at a 33.2% clip, but hit a much more palatable .287/.331/.511 (129 wRC+) over the prior three seasons and is just one season removed from a 4.9 fWAR 2023 campaign. Robert pairs that volatile but potentially impactful bat with impressive speed (he stole 23 bases in just 100 games this year) and quality defense in center field. He also comes with plenty of injury risk, as 2024 was just the second time in his career he played in even 100 games due to a number of trips to the injured list over the years.
Rosenthal suggests that if the Dodgers were to take a chance on the talented-but-inconsistent Robert, he’d slot into center field for Los Angeles. It’s unclear whether that would mean moving Mookie Betts back to right field and playing Tommy Edman at shortstop, or perhaps a move to second base for Edman that pushes Gavin Lux to the bench (or off the team via trade) and leaves right field open for some combination of Andy Pages and James Outman. Robert is guaranteed $17MM in the form of a $15MM salary and a $2MM buyout on a $20MM club option for 2026, but could be retained via club options through the end of the 2027 season if acquired. In terms of acquisition cost, it’s possible that Robert would be less pricey than Suzuki given that Rosenthal reports that the White Sox don’t expect to land multiple top prospects in exchange for Robert, though they would want a “meaningful piece” in return for the All-Star.
Kim is somewhat unique as a potential target for multiple reasons. As a free agent, he’d cost the Dodgers nothing but money as opposed to a trade for Suzuki or Robert that would require some sort of player or prospect return headed the other way. He’s also an infielder who derives much of his value from being a plus defender all across the infield dirt. That makes him a tricky positional fit for a Dodgers club that already figures to juggle Betts, Lux, and Miguel Rojas up the middle. While the club could simply move Betts back to right field, it’s possible they’d prefer to keep him on the dirt and play him alongside Kim with one at shortstop and the other at second base. That would leave Lux without a position, however, and also leave a hole in the outfield left to be internal options or another external addition.
Kim is also by far the weakest hitter of the three at the plate and an undeniable downgrade from Hernandez offensively. While Kim has improved leaps and bounds at the plate after a lackluster rookie season, he’s still more or less a league average hitter with a 101 wRC+ in 2024 and a .250/.336/.385 (106 wRC+) line overall since becoming a regular in 2022. It’s also worth noting that he seems ticketed for the injured list to start the season after undergoing shoulder surgery back in September, though Rosenthal reports that he’s targeting a return to the diamond “early” in the 2025 season. Even so, that would leave the Dodgers utilizing their internal options to fill out the lineup card until Kim is ready to return to action.
I hope not! Teo was such an important part of this Dodger team.
Why not resign him? He seems like a great fit…Even the Dodgers have to penny pinch sometimes I guess
Could be a pride thing. Just because you can easily afford the msrp doesn’t mean you pay it.
Plus like the mets you have to play coy or every player will abuse these uber budget teams
Can’t have it all, Dodgers fans. lol
Sadly they can
Probably not what is going on. More likely the Dodgers have made him an offer at least comparable to what he’d see from another team, but they don’t want to bid against themselves.
Best news I’ve heard all week. Means a jays reunion is even more likely now
I bet Teo is a plane to Toronto right now..
I’ll take that bet
I swear to god if Herjavec steps off that plane I’m gonna be real mad
Mariners reunion.
Big – It’s just posturing by the Dodgers, nothing more.
Well. I would love for the Oriolea to gamble on Louis Robert Jr
He has all the tools to be among the very best
They’re not tools, but his BB % and IL% are not so great.
Well, he is not perfect, but in the right situation….. he could be among the best.
Not sure the O’s even need Robert. They need pitching.
An outfield of Cowser, Robert, O’Neill could be exceptional
We (the O’s) never have really had an outfielder like Robert
Adam Jones?
He was good and a pleasant surprise from the Mariner trade from years ago, but I think Robert could be better
Robert has superstar tools.
It’s a shame he spent so much time with the White Sox though. All the bad habits he picked up there and the poor development of those tools make it extremely unlikely that he’ll hit that ceiling,
But I would also roll the dice on him for the O’s. Mullins only has a year left and neither he nor Cowser can hit lefties.
I think the Sox’ training and conditioning staff needs to be completely overhauled. Most of his injuries have been the soft tissue preventable kind, such as straining a hammie running to 1st. With a better staff, he should be able to play more.
Also, it came out last year that most Sox hitters, Robert included, were going up to the plate without a plan. I’m still flummoxed that they kept their hitting coach, but they’re trying to improve their lines of communication.
All that to say, I’m expecting something of a bounceback. Before last year, he averaged 5WAR/162, so talent isn’t the problem in any way; it’s really just health. Even last year, though he played 100 games, he was never feeling fully right.
I honestly hope the Sox keep him until the deadline. If he’s hurt again or struggles, his value doesn’t get much lower. If he does have a bounceback, it’ll see a nice bump. There’s little for the Sox to gain by selling now.
suzuki is a “stud” for the cubs but would be just a piece for the dodgers.
Cool story bro
Yeah not sure White Sox fans are in much of a position to talk trash.
Talking trash is all they have.
White – They won’t trade Suzuki before Roki signs somewhere.
He would be the best player the White Sox have had for the last decade
Those sunflower seed splashes after dingers are worth their weight in gold. They’re already spending like drunken sailors. Just pay the man….
Then when somebody does, queue the massive overpay comments. Rinse, repeat.
Jays will still not make the playoffs but I hope they bring him back because he is fun and fun is fun.
Hernandez has already said he’d love to play in Fenway. The question is are the Sox willing to outbid the Dodgers or is Teoscar willing to lower his price, be it in AAV or total years to make that happen?
The problem being Teo not wanting to lower his price….
Next to zero free agents go with the lower offer
Something doesn’t quite add up in this story. Presumably, Hernandez has an offer in hand from the Dodgers. Does the fact that he hasn’t signed the paper mean he’s got a better offer from another team? And if so, why hasn’t he accepted that offer?
Boston already has too many outfielders. His fit only works if they move someone. Preferably yoshida, but that’s not likely
They want a RH bat, not a soft hitting lefty
Not a right-handed bat….
Dodgers could go
3B muncy
Ss edman
2B mookie
1B freeman
COF Conforto
Cf Pages
COF Hernandez
They could definitely move pieces around to accommodate Hernandez without needing to trade for anyone.
They could also ship lux somewhere for pitching depth. Cubs make sense. Would dodges do lux in a deal for Stroman as the main pieces with prospects or money involved and Lux plays 2B chizzholm plays 3b for the Yankees.
What position is COF
Corner outfield
Corner outfield.
So left field and right field no longer exist. Ugh analytics
Nobody is trading anything of value for stroman. Dodgers have said mookie is playing short so edman will be in center most days. Pages will the a bench guy if they sign another starting outfielder.
“ with prospects or money involved”
Nobody
Yeah nobody wants to take a chance on an established #3-#4 starter for 2 years at a reduced price in exchange for a utility player under control for 2 years.
Sit this one out
Saying a 2 war player is “anything of value” and saying nobody would take stroman at a reduced price.
LA really doesn’t want to give Teo a third year.
Pads should be after Teoscar big time.
The Dodgers grabbed Snell Pads should grab Teoscar.
Show some fire Pads ownership.
Dodgers ownership walking all over Pads ownership, not even close.
Pads ownership hasn’t even entered the ring.
Come on man?!
Make a statement Pads ownership
Throw a punch.
Do something.
Friar’s maybe can try channeling Peter O’Malley’s late step grandson.
Obit *step*. …*Walter’s*
Nothing “step” about the relationship. Peter Seidler’s mom was Walter O’Malley’s daughter.
Article headline makes it sound like they are headed the route of AI or cloning.
Can a Dodgers fan please explain Gavin Lux’s value? They’ll move Mookie from grass to dirt, but Gavin has a locked 2B job?? For a team as loaded as the Dodgers, it seems like 2B isn’t a position of strength…does he have compromising pic’s of ownership or what?
Playing on a rookie contract. When the years of control dwindle and arbitration numbers increase, they’ll cut bait. In short, cheap and serviceable….
Sure – Gavin is a good defender at 2b, he’s coming back from a devastating injury, and is a very good contact hitter. Plus, he’s cheap. And homegrown, they know him well.
He had a .304/.390/.508 with a 152 wRC+ in the 2nd half of last year.
These are all attractive options and I have been hoping to see a report that acknowledges the obvious advantages. Adding Seiya, Robert and/or Kim each allow Dodgers to:
1. Move Mookie back to RF or 2B
2. Strengthen OF at a lower cost and get younger
3. Improve at SS defensively
I still don’t get why they added conforto he’s basically joc pederson but worse where he is league average vs righties and bad against lefties
Even if edman is at short and mookie at 2nd (instead of taking 2 outfield spots) I would rather try out rushing
I’m with you on this. Still trying to make sense of it.
It’s hard to believe that the Front Office would be so penny wise pound foolish. They wanted to spend $600 million on Soto, who they didn’t need and now they are going to quibble on a relativelt small expense to bring Teoscar back. Way to nickle and dime their way away from another championship.
Where did you hear that the Dodgers made an offer of any kind to Soto?
I’m OK if they let him walk. They could easily strike a trade for a RH outfielder
And who would that be, biscuits?
Starling Martè
The Dodgers can start the season with Dalton Rushing as their left fielder in place of Hernandez. If Rushing handles the position and is an adequate hitter, he remains as the starter. If Rushing does not handle the position and does not hit, then the Dodgers can always pivot mid-season or at the trade deadline and acquire another outfielder through a trade.
The Dodgers had a proven outfielder who stepped up, when others were injured. Hernandez was terrific for the team. Yes, he struck out…a lot! Take a look at Muncy’s strikeout %.
I’m sure the Dodgers will give Rushing every chance in spring training to show he’s ready to play left field. If they have decided to walk away from Teo, another trade to explore would be with the A’s for Lawrence Butler.
Yodhida is a DH masquerading as an outfielder.
Not right handed and he had surgery.
Ya mean the LA Deferrals can’t afford him?!
Afford? Or overpay. Big difference.
I think Dodgers made Teoscar an offer and said let us know what you get from anyone else. They made the comment awhile back that he deserves a chance to see what the market is like. To me, that explains a lot. I don’t think he’s received what he thought he would. So there might not be much to come back to the Dodgers with. But as time goes on it’s not in his favor. Teams run out of money. It does seem like he would be good for 3 years at about $22 a year. If they paid Conforto $17, he’s worth the $22. I hate that almost every time I hear a player wants to come back and will do whatever he can, you hear later he signed for 5 or 10% more somewhere else.
M’s might part with Arozerena. Might not be the best move for the mariners. He has a Similar comp to Teo without the high price/ length of contract
Mariners love the roster shuffle
Why? They don’t really need another Hernandez.
Everything I’ve read the last few months has been that the White Sox have placed an extremely high price on Robert. Why now would the not be expecting multiple top prospects in return?
Another disaster by Nick Deeds. not supposed to come in the middle, separated by commas.
And “good a fit as Suzuki would be” is NOT PROPER ENGLISH. You can’t just leave “as” out at the start of the sentence because you feel like it. It’s not optional, and neither is proper grammar.