Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández entered free agency at the beginning of this offseason. His free agency seemed to be pretty cut and dry, with many experts expecting him to re-sign with Los Angeles.
But the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as potential suitors for the star outfielder after both teams missed out on Juan Soto earlier this winter. Could one of these two American League East powerhouses steal Hernández from the Dodgers?
Despite the rumors of Hernández fitting with the Red Sox or Blue Jays, Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley expects the star outfielder to re-sign with the Dodgers. Hernández is projected to sign a three-year, $71 million deal, per Spotrac.
"It's possible a reunion is still in the works -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts thinks it will happen, for whatever that's worth -- but the longer Hernández remains unsigned, the more possible it becomes to picture him heading elsewhere," Buckley wrote.
"As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand noted, this delay in getting a deal done 'opened the door' for the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays to get in the running. And while the Dodgers may have interest in bringing Hernández back, it's less clear if they're willing to meet his reported asking price: 'a three-year deal in the $22-24 million a year range,' per Feinsand."
A reunion with the Dodgers makes the most sense. Hernández has already shown a willingness to take deferred money in his contract after doing so in his one-year deal last offseason. The Dodgers could leverage deferred money and their recent World Series title to bring the slugger back on a deal slightly less than what the Red Sox or Blue Jays may offer.