Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández is coming off one of the best years of his big league career. The star outfielder is a free agent this winter, but he’s been very vocal that he wants to return to the Dodgers and chase more World Series titles.
So, why haven’t the Dodgers re-signed the 32-year-old outfielder yet?
FanSided’s Zachary Rotman labeled it as the Dodgers being petty. Rotman shared the same confusion as to why Hernández hasn’t been re-signed yet.
“The 32-year-old is looking for a three-year deal worth roughly $23 million annually,” Rotman wrote. “This is a guy who set career highs with 33 home runs and 4.3 bWAR this past season. He drove in 99 runs, had a .840 OPS, was an All-Star, and won a Silver Slugger. Hernandez hit in the middle of the Dodgers’ order virtually all season long, consistently coming through when the team needed him to. In what world is an All-Star not worth roughly $23 million on a fairly short-term deal?”
It’s completely reasonable for Hernández to demand $20 million to $25 million a year. And that shouldn’t be a problem for the Dodgers.
“If the Dodgers won’t meet his price, there’s a good chance another team will considering how reasonable it is. The Dodgers have other options that they can consider, but it’d be tough for them to find one who fits in as well as Hernandez did,” Rotman wrote.
If Los Angeles doesn’t pay up, which would be incredibly shocking, the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and plenty of other teams will emerge as suitors.
Hernández is a very valued outfielder because of his bat. It’s almost guaranteed that at least one team will send him the three-year, $70 million deal that he’s looking for.
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