The Los Angeles Dodgers are re-uniting with fan-favorite outfielder Teoscar Hernández on a new contract.
Hernández’s new deal will guarantee the 32-year-old outfielder $66 million over three years, as first reported by Yancen Pujols on Twitter/X. Hernández subsequently confirmed he’s returning to Los Angeles on his own Instagram account.
Fuente: Teóscar Hernández y los Dodgers de Los Ángeles están finalizando un acuerdo por tres años y 66 millones de dólares garantizados. Felicidades para el dominicano.
— Yancen Pujols (@YancenPujols) December 27, 2024
Hernández hit 33 home runs with 99 runs batted in and an OPS of .840 in 2024. In July, he made the National League All-Star team and became the first Dodgers player ever to win the Home Run Derby.
The Dodgers signed Hernández in January to a deferral-laden, $23.5 million contract as a free agent coming off a down year with the Seattle Mariners. He proceeded to become a fan favorite in Los Angeles.
Now he’ll return to Los Angeles after leading the team to its eighth World Series championship in October.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the contract includes a fourth-year option for $15 million, more than $23 million in deferred money, and a $23 million signing bonus.
Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a three-year, $66 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a fourth-year option for $15 million, a little more than $23 million in deferred money and a $23 million signing bonus.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 27, 2024
Speaking to reporters at the Winter Meetings in Dallas, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he was “hopeful” about bringing Hernández back to Los Angeles.
“He had a really good year,” Friedman said of Hernández. “He put himself in a great position and I know he has talked about wanting to (re-sign), and I know that we have talked about him wanting to, and he and his family get to go through the interest and figure out what makes the most sense for them.”
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Both the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays made three-year offers to Hernández, who won two American League Silver Slugger Award, and slashed .263/.320/.503 in 609 games with Toronto from 2017-22.
Since winning the World Series, the Dodgers have already signed left-handed pitcher Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who became a free agent when he declined the 2025 option of his contract with the San Francisco Giants. Veteran outfielder Michael Conforto also signed a one-year contract, providing a left-handed hitting option alongside the right-handed hitting Hernández.
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The Dodgers also re-signed relief pitcher Blake Treinen, cut ties with right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler, and are pursuing free agent Roki Sasaki, who will not sign before Jan. 15.
In addition to the Dodgers and Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Cincinnati Reds had expressed interest in Hernández this offseason.
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