Though the Dodgers are in the market for an outfielder, they’ve also discussed the possibility of dealing from their current group. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Teoscar Hernandez’s name has popped up in some of the front office’s trade talks with other clubs, though the team doesn’t feel a deal is likely.
Hernandez, who turned 33 in October, is coming off a down season at the plate. His .247/.284/.454 batting line (102 wRC+) was his weakest since establishing himself as a major leaguer. He bounced back somewhat with a nice overall postseason showing, though, and Hernandez still ripped 25 home runs during 134 regular season games (546 plate appearances). This year’s 24.5% strikeout rate, while higher than league average, was the lowest of Hernandez’s career. Then again — that’s also true of his lowly 4.8% walk rate.
Hernandez’s batted-ball profile is still solid; his average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel rate are all better than league average. However, he’s seen noticeable dips in each area over the past two seasons, which corresponds with a decline in his bat speed, as measured by Statcast. As someone who’s practically an all-bat player at this point in his career, the trend lines are fairly concerning.
That’s particularly true for a Dodgers club that can’t transition Hernandez to designated hitter, due to the presence of Shohei Ohtani. Hernandez drew roughly average marks for his right field glovework in the eyes of Defensive Runs Saved, but Statcast was far more bearish, dinging him for negative-9 Outs Above Average. Statcast pegged Hernandez’s range in just the third percentile of MLB outfielders. He’s never had a positive OAA mark dating back to his 2016 MLB debut, nor has he ever topped a +1 DRS mark in his ten big league seasons.
Hernandez is entering the second season of a three-year, $66MM contract signed in free agency last winter. He’s still owed $33MM over the next two seasons — $12MM in ’26, $14.5MM in ’27 and a $6.5MM buyout on a 2028 club option — though $16MM of that sum is deferred and will not begin to be paid out until 2031.
Home runs notwithstanding, Hernandez is a questionable corner-only defender whose OBP flatlined at a career-worst .284 in 2025. By measure of wRC+, he was only 2% better than the average big league hitter in 2025. It’s fair to wonder whether he could match that $33MM guarantee if he were a free agent at the moment. Hernandez is a prominent name, and the five dingers he smacked in the playoffs are fresh in everyone’s memory, but his stock isn’t exactly at a high point. In terms of WAR, both FanGraphs (0.6) and Baseball-Reference (1.5) felt this was his worst or second-worst performance in a full season.
Trading Hernandez would create a bevy of possibilities for Los Angeles as they look to improve their defense. With so many versatile players on the roster (e.g. Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, Andy Pages, the recently re-signed Miguel Rojas), the Dodgers boast innumerable potential defensive alignment and could thus pursue a wide range of free agent and trade targets.
Notably, Rosenthal echoes previous reporting from colleague Fabian Ardaya, ESPN’s Jeff Passan and others in suggesting that Kyle Tucker will likely command more than the Dodgers prefer to spend; they’d reportedly be amenable to a shorter-than-expected deal, but Tucker still seems likely to command a significant long-term pact.
Even if a (still very hypothetical) Hernandez trade wouldn’t pave the way for an earnest pursuit of Tucker, shedding his salary and freeing up roster space would bring about ample room for creativity. Speculatively speaking, the Dodgers could rekindle their deadline interest in Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, make a run at one of the Red Sox’ likely available outfielders (Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu) or once again jump into the fray for a versatile Cardinals utilityman (Brendan Donovan). If they’re open to shifting Betts back to the outfield, the possibilities expand even further.
MARLINS
MARLINS need a 1B, defensive C and 3b.
OF they have plenty.
Last time someone moved on from Hernandez after a down year at the plate he was an All Star and helped his team to a World Series.
Teo has certainly done a lot better than the relief pitcher Toronto acquired for him.
He also led the world in strikeouts in Seattle, so cant blame them from moving on
He also needlessly torched the team and its stadium afterwords. Only serves to piss of people for no reason. I hope he ends up with the Pirates.
Why would you want that unless you hate the Pirates. Teo barely gets on base anymore which the Pirates already have a problem with, and his RH power won’t play at PNC Park.
Hey bob I don’t recall Teo torching anybody or saying anything negative at all about Seattle, I know he got along well if everyone and the fans liked him. I just recall him saying he had issues with the batters eye at T-Mobile and hitting there was a challenge for him.
Not a bad option for a team like the reds if they miss out on Schwarber. 2 years/33 mil will be a lot light bill to pay too
Doubt any team would consider taking on that deferred money. So good luck w that dodgers
He was also two years younger
I am laughing at a down season being one in which he hit 25 homers in the bigs.
True but that’s all he did. Not a bad player but was very one dimensional. Didn’t get on base or play defense. Still many teams can use that power and play him 50/50 at DH and outfield.
Probably the .284 OBP, consistent chase out of the strike zone, and the putrid defense that went along with the 25 HRs….
“Ptobably the .284″…I’ll take Teo all seven days of the week. He doesn’t get completely shut down by front end(playoff) pitchers, unlike many players who put up massive stats against back end pitchers and then flail against superior pitching. That’s my 2 cents anyway.
During the 2025 playoffs, Teo had a monster 2 game series against Cincy, facing an overwhelmed Hunter Greene and Zack Litell (and others).
His combined performance against Philly, Milwaukee, and Toronto was a quite mediocre .671 OPS, including a .288 OBP.
In the World Series he produced an even lower .648 OPS
But I guess playoff pitching didn’t shut him down.
He just decided after the first two games that he did his part and shut himself down.
He’s a serious liability defensively, and is no longer putting up enough offense to offset it.
Check your Teo playoff stats against several other top players(Judge etc)and see what happens when guys face top end pitching. It’s the playoffs, man.
His career OPS is .800. His career playoff OPS is .792. He’s the same player against “top-end pitching,” as you call it.
You must have missed 80% of his playoff at-bats where he repeatedly flailed at breaking balls that ended up a foot+ out of the zone. I’m a Dodger fan and I love Teo as a human being, but there are some concerning trends/habits of late.
“I am laughing at a down season being one in which he hit 25 homers in the bigs.”
102 wRC+ 0.6 fWAR/546 PA
Career 117 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR/546 PA
Definite down year and a year where he didn’t perform up to a starting level
Oh no.The Dodgers are going to hurt the Reds again.
I came here to say the same thing, please no
I’m all for it this time lol.
I wonder what Yasiel is up to these days.
He’d hit better playing half of his games at Fenway Park.
Probably have to get rid of a couple players first tho
Two years ago i would have agreed. With the roster constructed the way it is now and bats the Sox add almost certainly have to be on the Infield.
However, there is one direct path which would be the Dodgers taking Yoshida in the deal. The Dodgers don’t need Yoshida (unless they think he can play the OF) but we’ve seen players acquired in trades as salary dumps and then released (Adrian Gonzalez to the Braves comes to mind immediately)
Dodger stadium is pretty HR friendly
Yeah expect to eat a lot of that contract after a sub .300 OBP
Plus all those deferrals. Who’d ever pick up a cent of that lol
Well deferrals are usually a given especially for the year he already played
I get the $23.5 mm is a “high” overall deferred amount but offset by low cash outlays in near term and discounting future deferred payments by some kind of discount rate.
What? Deferrals means you’re paying him less in today’s dollars. How’s that bad economically?
Good or bad is irrelevant it’s definitely working well for the dodgers. But smaller market teams who may consider a trade won’t be looking to bog down their future payroll. Plus his contract is upside down so dodgers are gonna have to take on some money
They’ll take on some money most likely but deferred dollars is good overall, not bad. The downside is that there is deferred dollars from 2025 salary, but the go forward deferral from 2026 and 2027 is good, not bad.
Bubic for Teo and half his remaining salary?
I don’t think LA is looking for SP?
@Salzilla
Bubic would be a significant upgrade to their bullpen (he has been very successful in relief in the past). Although given his impending free agency, he may be a very disgruntled bullpen pitcher.
He has, but i believe he prefers starting and is an all-star at it. I think it’d be a waste of his talents tbh.
I’m so used to them stockpiling starters that I forgot their bigger need is the pen.
Maybe Erceg then. Or to Colorado for Victor Vodnick (in a heavy Russian accent in my mind).
I picture him like Yuri from Stranger Things season 4 lol.
Both of those RP would make for good targets.
Thanks. I haven’t watched Stranger Things, unfortunately, so I don’t know this Yuri of whom you speak, but I can imagine.
Isn’t he entering his 3rd and final year of the deal
No, they resigned him last year
After seeing this, if I’m Chaim Bloom I’m calling the Dodgers to work out a deal. I know they are trying to get younger and whatnot, BUT they have DH ABs to give (if Herrera can catch) or corner OF ABs if they trade Nootbaar or Contreras (move Burleson to 1B). This guy is not a bad bet to have a better season than last year, we’ve seen this before in his career. The main idea behind this would to hopefully trade him at the trade deadline when a team needs some power for the stretch run.
I would offer to take on the full contract (which is really not that bad for what’s remaining) for some prospects close to MLB ready like Rushing if Herrera DHs or Freeland. Maybe have them throw in an arm like Casparius
This is literally the opposite of what the Cards would do
Yes, which is why they are in the situation they’re in
Wait so you would get teo and top prospects for what exactly?
taking on the entirety of the contract. maybe the top prospects are a little too high, but even if you lower the talent a little it’s still worth it for the Cards as the Dodgers have a great farm
@kevnames42
The Dodgers aren’t hurting for money. They would just cut him and eat the contract before sending top level players out the door with him. Another team will likely take the whole contract for minimal return. Or, a more modest return if the dodgers cover some of the deal. But he isnt so bad that hes a negative asset. What your proposing is that he is basically Rendon.
I understand your point, but not only are they trying to get rid of the money, they have a logjam of young talent as well. They have Smith in front of Rushing, Edman/Kim/Muncy/Rojas/inevitably Kike ahead of Freeland. Just because they CAN eat the money, doesn’t mean they want to
So dump the money on Teo and kick him out the door. Then trade the young talent for more proven talent. Its a waste of resources to spend talent to get rid of money. It almost never happens.
Too many good young players! Oh no, we need to fix the problem by trading them away!!!
How horrible a position to be in…
Usually but not when yout paying 110% on the Teo money.
Even for the Dodgers. Thats expensive
They wont rushing away so they can save the Teo money but for some cost controlled players they can use, i could see it
How i feel about the Red Sox Outfield.Would you rather have 3 good starters and good back ups or 3 good starters and three guys that produce like the Royals outfielders do?Keep the good players until you get a great deal for one of them.Top of the rotation guy.
@TB Sox NY
This is fair to a degree, but assuming Rafaela remains as the starting CFer, it would require Abreu to be sent down to AAA OR to have no RH platoon OF bat, which doesn’t work with their current roster construction.
I think it’s more likely they plan to move an OFer but are telling interested teams that they’re comfortable keeping everyone in order to drive up price.
Cards are shedding payroll, can’t see this at all.
Sure, they’ll give you some of their top prospects for absolutely nothing.
you know what yall? I’m not too big a person to admit when I’m wrong. maybe this wasnt my best idea. I’ve been swayed
@kev it happens to the best of us
You’ve got to be kidding. You’re saying the Cardinals would receive Teo and a prospect to take on his salary??!! Preposterous notion.
No teams have shown a willingness to include prospects as opposed to paying down a salary for an overpriced piece in a trade
The Dodgers high payroll gives them a luxury few have, but their willingness to move on from stars and be creative is impressive as well.
Would rather have teo than having traded for ward.
Similar profile but Ward is younger. Cheaper too? Would give up way less.
Cubs
If Tuck comes, then Teo is for sure traded.
Yea Phillies have a of who can’t can’t filed for free…Nicky C anyone?
Be a great fit for the Pirates
It’s where right-handed power goes to die, but if PGH wants to inflate its payroll, Teo wouldn’t be the worst option.
Oh hell nooooooooo. Low OBP and he’s right handed, no thanks.
This would definitely be if they sign Tucker because they are one OF short as it is
Really interested to see what sucker pays Tucker $400m for a .260 average and his 22 homers.
And his 143 OPS+. And his 179 OPS+ from 2024.
Yup, Tucker has ONE Top 12 finish for MVP in his career…
Only, once in his career has he had at least a marginal MVP year, but wants to get paid like a Top Five player in baseball.
Tucker is a very good, but not great player. A player that you are going to be happy your favorite team did not invest in.
This has to be in an attempt to improve Outfield Defense. Ohtani’s locked up DH, so the Dodgers can benefit moving Teo to bolster the pen or the farm.
Even so, Teoscar Hernandez is still a staple of both Dodgers World Series runs in the last 2 years, and they definitely don’t win without him.
“This has to be in an attempt to improve Outfield Defense.”
No 💩 sherlock!
^Useless comment.
Yeah, they could have won without him.
he won them game 1 of the NLDS, it’s probably a 5 game series otherwise and that was huge for the dodgers postseason run
LA Deferrals discussing Hernandez in possible trade may possibly mean Friedman has something bigger in the works – Tucker – Bregman?
Could be an interesting Winter Meetings
LA and Deferrals, talk about a stale and tired tale of other fan’s woes…
Pity the Giants fan. They haven’t been relevant in the past decade….
Braves please
Atlanta is MUCH smarter than that.
Where’s he going to play? If LA ate 2/3 of his salary, maybe. But still no.
Could re-sign Ozuna for much less and get a better DH.
Yeah I don’t think anyone can say with any confidence that Ozuna will be a better DH than Teo in 2026. And Ozuna is a DH only. The benefit of Teo is you can at least plug him in the outfield some to get Acuna off his two surgically repaired knees. If LA ate good chunk of the money, that alone would make me choose Teo. I’m not saying it’s the best option. But if they are signing a bat to DH, my preference is someone capable of plying the outfield to provide Acuna some DH AB’s unless it’s Schwarber which isn’t happening.
Would rather have Teo than Ozuna.
To me this a sign of clearing space for Tucker. If they can get someone to take on Teo’s salary for like a RP I think you’d have a deal. Even though everyone thinks they have infinite money, they’re throwing a lot of it away on these taxes. So clearing out a bit can only help. If the Phillies don’t re-sign Scwarber it could work (or trade Nick C, heck include him!).
Unless he were free to obtain and played for relative peanuts, and a team was willing to give up the DH position to him exclusively, no one seriously wants this guy at this stage in his career.
And the Dodgers know this, making him a dilemma.
Dodgers are making room for Bellinger’s eventual return. They will eat as much money on that contract just to move him.
More likely than Tucker. May as well trade for Seager and get the band back together!
This is a whole lot of not going to happen.
Best defensive outfielder in baseball
Probably the batters eye at dodger stadium eh?
This is eyeball test only, but he appeared to be adequate in LF in 2024. Don’t really need to trade him even if they acquire a RF.
Tucker “more than the Dodgers want to spend” lmao ya sure. Whatever. That’s obviously who there after.
probably trying to motivate teo, they could happily eat the last year of his contract if he has a “bounce back” 2026 season
The amount of money spent on players is moot when it comes to the Dodgers… unless I’m reading this wrong … Hernandez got half of the 66/3 year contract in the first year…
Is he a $33 million year player?
Translated: the almost unlimited Dodgers payroll has nothing to do with how they build their team- they just have to make sure they don’t end up with too many players.
Coors
Are you drunk?
Everybody knows you can’t get drunk on Coors, only sick.
Hey Coors. You win the”not the brightest bulb” contest. Congratulations! Mookie’s in decline?
Better a year early than a year too late.
It’s funny no one mentioned a few facts regarding Teo.
The talk of trading him is originating from other teams.
He is his worst enemy. He was on a literal MVP pace hitting in 2025 before he was hurt. His defense up to that out was solid. He came back too fast and never took games off to fully heal.
His hitting and defense took major steps back because that’s what happens when you have groin and foot injuries on the same side of your body and are stubborn about being in the lineup.
The one time Roberts forced him to take two games off in a row, he came back on a mini tear hitting homers.
He’ll be fine this year. Without those injuries this wouldn’t even be a conversation. As someone who watches every dodgers game it was very apparent he was affected in all aspects of his game because he wouldn’t rest and recover properly with time off. He couldn’t run full speed, his balance at the plate was off, and he was swinging with his update body more and reaching on his swings.
Considering how much it affected last season, I think this upcoming season will be much better. The Dodgers will force rest if he’s injured again. They have the depth. He and Freddie are stubborn guys when it comes to days off.
Well said! Two is a mainstay of the team. He was hurt.
And no one can replace Teo’s sunflower seed showers….
I’ve always said that no one complains about Teoscar’s defense when he rakes, as he did in 2024. When he doesn’t rake all the complaints come out, as it did in 2025. If he doesn’t rake he’s a liability, as he was in 2025. I would prefer to unload him. Not because it’s a burdensome contract or you expect a return, but rather it provides a way to upgrade the corner OF position. Dodgers need to get younger, and this is a way to achieve this. The quality of ABs is just not there with Teo, and putting him together with Pages, makes it two low quality AB hitters. Too many for this usually disciplined Dodger lineup.
I admit that it may be a challenge to find a buyer. That said, you would expect some kind of bounce back in 2026, but who knows. If they can unload him, you acquire two OFs, one at CF and one at LF, and slide Pages to RF.
Dodgers would have to pay a large portion of the $56.5 million he is guaranteed including all of the $23.5 million in deferred money in order to move the 33 year old Hernandez.
Outside of a hot 3 weeks in mid to late April he had an 86 wRC+ in 2025. Combined with a steep decline in his defensive numbers, that is a huge red flag for a player his age. I don’t think that they will be able to move him, but worse contracts have been moved so who knows.
First of all, deferred salaries don’t work that way. Second, his guarantee over the next two season is around $48M (including a $6.5M buyout) $16M of which is deferred for six years. This makes the present value lower than $48M. (The article also has the deferral years wrong.)
Yeah, but he has such a kind smile
Moving Teo makes sense only if he refuses to play LF.
He did have a bad groin most of the year, and it’s hard to re-set your swing in the middle of the season if that led to some of the issues. He’s a great clubhouse guy, too, so not sure you want to move him. Of course almost everyone is available in the right trade.
Also, Teo’s contract length fits the up and coming Dodger OF prospects.
Dodgers need a LH Outfielder who can play CF or RF and then move Teo to Left
Then they need a bullpen piece or two – does not necessarily need t be a proven closer. A guy like Tyler Rogers works. If Suarez or Diaz come into the right price range and length, strike. But if not, I think there are a good deal of other FA and trade options to bolster the bullpen.
Dodgers should not take on any other long-term contracts,
Ohtani to RF !
He has shown that he is a great athlete who can do it between starts. Perhaps Ohtani DH’s for a day or two after starts. This opens up the DH spot for the Freeman-Smith-Rushing logjam at 1B and C.
Ohtani is never going to play the field as long as he’s pitching, they’re not going to risk an arm injury with him playing right.
Pretty sure Rushing is gonna be traded this off season. Another year batting in the low 200’s will kill his value. He need to be an everyday starter. I’m hoping to package him in a deal to the Rangers for Seager. More than likely a long shot, but I can dream.
I was saying late in the season that Teo needs to be traded.
oh ma Gawd, look at me I’m the dodgers and I have an (eeek!) league average bat in my lineup. Nooooo! better sign an MVP candidate to fill that spot!
Or you can finish 3rd in your division and go home after the first round of the playoffs.
If that happened to the Dodgers next year people in every time zone east of the Pacific would erupt in weeks of celebration.
I guess you don’t pay attention to the tv ratings or the attendance records, home and away. Never mind the back to back championships. Enjoy your hating. I’m sure it gives you loads of comfort.
Rays couldn’t afford him even in trade capital but even then I wouldn’t want him on the team.
This man can hit in the postseason.
He didn’t this year, as the article points out. And he’s not getting any younger. And he has to wear a glove.
are you back?
Royals? If Dodgers cover half of the salary and trade for just a prospect or Jonathan India
Kwan fits this team exceptionally well. His ability to run deep counts is especially valuable in a veteran team of professional hitters like the dodgers.