Teoscar Hernandez’s name surfaced in trade rumors earlier this winter, and now that Kyle Tucker is joining the Los Angeles outfield, it created some natural speculation that the Dodgers could clear room by moving Hernandez elsewhere. Even with Tucker in the fold, however, it is more likely than not that Hernandez will still be a Dodger on Opening Day, according to both The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez.
The Dodgers’ plan is likely to move Hernandez over to left field, with Tucker taking his customary right field position. Andy Pages and Tommy Edman would be the primary center field options with Alex Call in a reserve outfield role, and Edman is also perhaps the top option within an unsettled second base mix that also includes Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, and new acquisition Andy Ibanez. A reunion with Enrique Hernandez at some point this offseason also can’t be ruled out.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts and GM Brandon Gomes both downplayed the idea of a Hernandez trade back in December, and even Rosenthal’s initial report about the trade talks indicated that it was “unlikely” the Dodgers would move on just a year after signing Hernandez to a three-year, $66MM free agent contract. The remaining money on that deal is broken down as $12MM in 2026, $14.5MM in 2027, and a $6.5MM buyout of a $15MM club option for the 2028 season.
Half of that $66MM guaranteed has already covered in the form of a $23MM signing bonus and a $10MM salary for 2025, plus $23.5MM of the total $66MM is deferred until 2031. A team trading for Hernandez would therefore be taking on only $33MM over a two-year period, with the remaining deferrals reducing that overall price tag.
This modest remaining cost likely led a few outfield-needy teams to at least float the idea of a Hernandez deal with Los Angeles, and the Royals were cited as one of the interested clubs. While money isn’t exactly an object for the free-spending Dodgers, moving Hernandez would’ve provided the team with some luxury tax relief, and opened up some more room in the outfield for other players. Call or Edman could get more playing time on the grass, which then removes Edman from the second base battle. Several of the Dodgers’ top prospects are outfielders, so the likes of Josue De Paula could’ve had more room for a Major League debut in 2026.
In keeping Hernandez, the Dodgers avoid any potential pitfalls with depth or untested players as L.A. tries to win its third consecutive World Series title. There’s also the possibility that Hernandez’s trade market was a little thin in the wake of a so-so year for the veteran. Hernandez still hit 25 homers, but his .247/.284/.454 slash line over 546 plate appearances translated to only a 102 wRC+, and his walk rate plunged to a career-low 4.8%.
Hernandez also had only a 107 wRC+ in 2023, though he bounced back from that season to hit more like his old self in his first year with the Dodgers in 2024. Another rebound performance shouldn’t be ruled out as Hernandez enters his age-33 season, but his subpar defense means that his value is limited if he isn’t hitting.
While trading a proven big leaguer like Hernandez might not be in the cards for the Dodgers, the champs have enough depth all over the diamond that they could turn to any number of less-established players as trade chips. Rosenthal suggests that right-hander Bobby Miller or minor league outfielder Ryan Ward could be players Los Angeles is more open to trading.
Just a few years removed from being one of the game’s top pitching prospects, Miller performed well in his 2023 rookie season but has struggled to an 8.85 ERA over 61 MLB innings since Opening Day 2024. He appeared in only two Major League games in 2025 while continuing to battle control problems at the Triple-A level. Ward is an eighth-round pick from the 2019 draft who crushed Triple-A pitching in 2025, and while he likely would’ve already gotten a chance in the Show in a less star-studded organization, Ward is entering his age-28 season and probably isn’t in the Dodgers’ long-term plans.
Rich team problems. Still not getting why Tucker has a higher aav than 6 tools Ohtani.
Because they want to raise the floor of the team. And while they have the Betts/Ohtani window open, it’s win now mode.
Friedman said they wanted the bye this postseason. This helps. It’s the cost of doing business.
And they are also raising the value of the team as a whole. So the money invested in the players is multiplied by the gains in revenue and team value.
Also, if there are major changes to the CBA, these contracts are grandfathered in.
hmmm…Shouldn’t they want the extra home games and gate revenue? lol
My hope is that we have a long, extended lockout!! I am sick of the Dodgers buying their way into playoffs every year. The floor must be raised in spending by teams, but their needs to be a hard cap. Don’t like it players? Don’t PLAY BABIES!! Sick of some teams having NO chance to compete for a championship. The Dodgers are spending TWICE what the Braves are spending this year. The Braves are in the top 5 in league spending. The Dodgers tax penalty for last year was higher than 12 MLB teams total payroll in 2025. Ridiculous!! About ready to give up on MLB and go total NFL. At least, there is competition to win among ALL TEAMS.
dc
“Don’t like it players? Don’t PLAY BABIES!!”
What?
Infants can’t throw a ball sixty feet and their strike zone would be tiny. It would be walks until the end of time. Don’t play babies! I think it’s in the extended cut of Minor League 3: Back to the Minors.
Now, and I assume there’s no rules against it, a particularly sporting golden retriever on the other hand could elevate the game.
What, indeed? The complaints seemingly get stranger and more disconnected from reality every day. The 30 owners can share as much of the revenue from the game between them as they wish. The revenue system they have is the revenue system they want. Everybody profits. The biggest and most dangerous delusion held by some fans is that a lockout would be about increasing competition, when it is entirely about increasing profits for ownership. And that’s something every fan should want, right?
Because 68M of Ohtani contract was deferred to bring down the cap hit. If all 70M counted, it would be a different story.
The length of the commitment has a lot to do with it, and for all the words wasted on Ohtani’s headline number, his contract is one of baseball’s greatest bargains — and not only for what he can do on the field.
“Still not getting why Tucker has a higher aav than 6 tools Ohtani.”
Because they are paying for prime years and not decline years.
Because they are taking on less risk on a shorter contract
Simple supply and demand. Ohtani is not available to sign.
Citizen
Inflation, prices have gone up for everything
Ohtanis contract is worth his value in merchandise in us and Japan, he can also pitch, field, dh, pinch run, sb. Tucker can field and hit, maybe some sb. He still lacks the marketing and certainly can not pitch games. Pay more for less playing and fielding . Great.
Because they get his prime with no long term risk
I don’t know why this wasn’t always obvious when it was always so obvious.
With all of these later moves, it almost seems like the League and teams conspire to do this to keep fans interested in January.
So he’ll be traded next week. 🤣
I can still see a trade with Boston depending on what it would take in return. While I’d like Suarez as their 26 DH (not at third other than as a backup), Hernandez would also be fine as the primary DH and occasional or emergency outfielder.
Adding Tucker to this lineup will have Toescar seeing a lot more pitches that he can hit. I am guessing he gets to 25HR’s and if he stays healthy possibly 80-90 RBI.
If he gets 500 ABs, I can see better in that lineup. Back in I think 1977, both the Dodgers and Red Sox each I recall had four players with 30 and 100. The Yankees though won the WS lol.
It will be interesting to see how Teo does in 2026. He was hitting .315 with a .933 OPS in 2025, before a groin injury, and his performance was subpar overall thereafter . He only missed a couple weeks with the injury, which seems way too little with a groin injury and I think he was hurting the rest of the season. It would help explain why he looked like 2 different players pre and post IL trip.
Yeah, he has to stay healthy, but I think with the addition of Tucker, he will get additional games as the primary DH when Ohtani is pitching. As a White Sox fan I am a bit jealous of the Dodgers owners, but with the Sox being the 2nd Chicago team in Baseball, I doubt we see them contending until Jerry Reinsdorf sells the team.
Embarrassment of riches. Hope these players realize with all that money comes an arrogance that everyone is expendable (minus ohtani) that will hurt even players like Hernandez.
He can wipe away his tears with dollar bills. He just has to be careful not to cut himself with his world series rings.
Jr,
Unlike some teams, the Dodgers communicate with their players. Everyone knows where they stand.
Where did you buy your rose colored glasses? I could sure use a pair. Ignorance is bliss.
That’s a shocking revelation that the two time World Series champions would like to trade a pitcher with an ERA over 8 and a 27 year old career minor league outfielder.
Point taken, but on Miller, he showed really well in his rookie season. Some team might want to take a chance that he can figure it out again. And most teams probably would have promoted Ward by now. Neither of them nets a haul, but maybe a midlevel prospect or two. The other player they need to move sooner or later is Knack.
Ward was available last year in the Rule V draft. Obviously no one drafted him.
Sure, not for a full season active roster slot at that time. This is the catch on Rule 5. In a trade with options remaining he gets them something back. Not a lot. Something.
C: Smith
IF: Freeman, Edman, Muncy, Betts
OF: Teoscar, Pages, Tucker
SO: Ohtani
BN: Rushing, Rojas, Ibanez, Call
Call or Ibanez could go when/if Kiké comes back
Looks like it’ll be tough for Freeland to force his way onto the team.
Alex Call still has options so he can be stashed in AAA when not needed.
Edman won’t be ready to start the season.
I think Kim makes the team as a pinch runner, defensive replacement, and overall cheerleader
Instead of who?
What about Kim? Trade him out? I agree that Ibanez is a place holder for Kike unless he starts out on fire. With Ohtani not counting against the pitcher max of 13, they could keep a fifth bench bat if they choose. I think they will want a lefty bat that is not the other catcher on the team.
Kim gets some reps at second base while Edman is recovering from ankle surgery. He hit extremely well and surprised everyone until the league caught up. If he’s made the right adjustments, he’ll get regular playing time at second.
“With Ohtani not counting against the pitcher max of 13, they could keep a fifth bench bat if they choose. ”
They need 6 starters because of Ohtani. And Yamamoto. And, everyone else, really.
So, they need the extra pitcher spot
Getting Teoscar out of RF was probably an offseason goal for a team that values run prevention. Indulging Betts’s desire to play infield last season meant the team risked (and experienced) significantly weakening the defense. Some of the geekstats don’t agree with this, but he looked at least average in LF in 2024.
Yes, it was obvious that the Dodgers wanted to move Teo out of RF and that they’d make it happen somehow. Teo will never be a graceful outfielder, but can get the job done, and his skills play better in LF.
But I can’t agree with Betts having some sort of desire to play SS. He simply answered the bell when it rung. He put a lot of effort into it, and succeeded, because he’s that kind of athlete and that kind of person.
Tucker will likely take right field, Pages in center, with Hernandez in left.
Betts moving was the team trying to reduce his load, as he was supposed to play second base. Lux getting the yips moved Betts to shortstop. And since he put in the work and is extremely competent at the position, they left him there.
Easier to find a second baseman than a gold glove nominated shortstop who hits like Mookie Betts
Waiting through 10+ years of a Tiger rebuild, suffering through it all, waiting and hoping and praying. Looking for a dynasty.LA just wipes the floor with everybody, The Tigers just trying to be merely somewhat competitive and squeekers into the playoffs. I keep hearing anything can happen in a short series…..
NOT WHY I WAS A FAN = to squeek in.
I should have drank more beer at Tommy’s!
Same experience as a Twins fan. The moment we were relevant owners cried poor and cut spending and gutted the roster over the next two years. Then tried, and failed, to sell the team but are claiming to try winning again with the leftover bones. Really they’re getting just above the minimum spending for a relief aid team.
Meanwhile every big market team except the Mets waltz into the playoffs and sign any players they want leaving the others to fight for the scraps
Teoscar ridin’ the pines…
So long Kike…mop duty in the food court
Maybe Kike signs with the Blue Jays … makes for a fun story
Yankees won 20 WS Championships in 40 years from 1923-1962. That’s the bar.
Dodgers need 17 more in the next 35 years to get there
NY won a goodly number of those when winning the WS meant winning 1 series (not 4). Apples to apples (however Big) it ain’t.
Someone might offer for Hernandez.
I hope this all backfires severely on the Dodgers. They have ruined baseball.
Dodgers news………whatever
Aka no takers even at a probable discounted rate
If I were a rebuilding team I would ask the dodgers for prospects instead of cash in a Teoscar deal
Which they probably did dodgers said no and nobody was interested in Hernandez and cash deals
NY won a goodly number of those when winning the WS meant winning 1 series (not 4)… apples to apples (Big or not) it ain’t.
60 million a year for a corner outfielder who hasn’t hit over .300 once in his career. Must be Dodgers logic