Last time Teoscar Hernández Looking out at the crowd at Dodger Stadium, the veteran outfielder nearly collapsed crying.
“I just want to thank you,” Hernández said during the Dodgers game. World Series celebration at Chávez Ravine last Fridayhaving played a crucial role in the life of the club first full-season championship since 1988.
Hernández then stopped, choked with emotion. Before him, more than 40,000 fans began to scream in gratitude.
“I play this game to win,” Hernández continued, the serenade from the stands growing louder with each word. “And the Dodgers gave me the opportunity to come here to be able to help this organization, this team, these people, this city, win a championship. You made this dream come true. Thank you for making me a world champion.
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Without Hernández, the Dodgers might not have had a championship to celebrate.
After signing a one-year, $23.5 million contract Last offseason, he became one of the most important pieces of the Dodgers’ indomitable lineup, racking up 33 home runs and 99 RBIs in the regular season, along with a number of key hits, including his equalizing the score, double by two points in Game 5 of the World Series – during their playoff run to a title.
A week later, Hernández is back on the free agent market, where he will be a more coveted commodity than last winter following his resurgence in performance. And as the Dodgers evaluate their plans for this winter, whether or not they retain him could be a deciding factor for the entire offseason.
As general manager Brandon Gomes admitted Wednesday, the club’s biggest priority on offense this winter is strengthening the outfield. That was true even before Gomes announced the choice of right fielder. Bets on Mookie likely I will return to the field next year. This is now a dire need with few obvious solutions.
The Dodgers do not have an established everyday outfielder on their roster, with only platoon bats such as Andy Pages, Chris Taylor and James Outman under club control for next season.
The team could change utility man Tommy Edmanwho spent most of his playing time in October at shortstop, in an everyday role in center field. Dodgers’ top prospect, catcher Dalton rushescan also provide depth after finishing this season playing left field in Triple-A.
But this season, much of the Dodgers’ offensive success relied on Hernández’s consistent, decisive hitting.
And – unless you become a free agent superstar Juan Soto26 years old – the Dodgers might struggle to find attractive alternatives if they don’t bring back Hernández.
“Teo played a major role in what we accomplished this year,” Gomes said Wednesday during the Major League Baseball general managers meetings. “On the ground, we saw it very clearly. Huge impact in the clubhouse with younger guys, his energy. So we will have conversations with Teo and his group as soon as possible.
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The good news for the Dodgers: Hernández’s desire is to stay in Los Angeles on a long-term contract. The 32-year-old Dominican Republic native relished his first season with the organization, during which he earned his second All-Star selection and became the club’s player. first winner of the Home Run Derbyand posted the second-highest batting average (.272) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (.840) of his nine-year career.
In the clubhouse, he has carved out an important leadership role for himself, connecting with everyone from Shohei Ohtani (Hernández was among the first Dodgers build a relationship with the $700 million star in spring training) to younger faces like Pages (whom Hernández took under his wing during the rookie’s strong season).
And after playing for three teams over the past three seasons, Hernández hopes to find stability in the Southland, telling reporters after Friday’s stadium celebration that his “hopes are really high” of re-signing with the Dodgers.
“The Dodgers are obviously the priority,” he said. “I’m going to do everything in my power to come back.”
The question is whether the Dodgers are as convinced and will be willing to reward him with the three-year contract he is reportedly seeking.
In the short term, retaining Hernández seems like a no-brainer for the Dodgers.
He could move to right field, his strongest defensive position. He was able to maintain continuity in the lineup, where he formed a powerful top four with Ohtani, Betts and Freddie Freeman. And he could help preserve the clubhouse culture that fueled the Dodgers’ October run.
If the team intends to “start it again” with the same core list – something manager Dave Roberts and a few players have already hinted that they hope to see – re-signing Hernández would be a top priority.
However, the Dodgers front office, which declined to engage in extension negotiations with Hernandez’s agents during the season, also factors long-term risk into personnel evaluations. And giving a 32-year-old who annually posts one of the highest strikeout rates in the league a lucrative three-year contract — Hernández is expected to receive between $60 million and $70 million on the open market — would amount to a break from his usual salary. operating procedure.
Still, the risk of losing Hernández should also be factored into their decision-making.
The only best outfielder in this free agent class is Soto. He’s expected to spark a bidding war between the New York Yankees and New York Mets that could push his price to $700 million, a staggering amount that even the deep-pocketed Dodgers, who signed Ohtani to a contract . strongly delayed agreement last winter, they might be hesitant to spend again.
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The rest of the market is dominated by Anthony Santander, Tyler O’Neill and Jurickson Profar, with other veterans such as Alex Verdugo, Jesse Winker, Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham also available as lower-cost options.
The Dodgers could also explore the trade market – they still have a highly touted farm system and might be tempted to trade second baseman Gavin Lux now that Betts is set to return to the field – but there will be no probably not many impact bats available. there neither.
That’s why, as the Dodgers try to figure out their plans for the winter, Hernández emerges as one of the most important pillars of the offseason. And if they fail to re-sign him, they will have to defend their championship without one of the players who helped them win it the most.
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This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
