Dodgers Remain Interested in Adding All-Star Outfielder in Free Agency

Could the Dodgers add this two-time Silver Slugger award winner to an already-stacked roster?

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't done improving their roster this off-season. 

Even after breaking the bank on two players, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, they are considering adding at least one other impact player via free agency. 

Having addressed their 2023 starting rotation, it appears the front office is looking to add a big bat to join an already-stacked lineup. According to reporter Francys Romero, the Dodgers are among the teams monitoring the market for free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. 

Dodgers are among the teams still monitoring OF Teoscar Hernández market, per sources.

They are not favorites to sign Hernandez but they can surprise.

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) December 25, 2023

Hernandez is among the best hitters still available in a relatively weak free agent class. He is 31 and spent the 2023 season with the Seattle Mariners. In what appears to be his lone season as a Mariner, he slashed .258/.305/.435 with a .741 OPS. 

Hernandez's 106 OPS+ last season was nearly a career low; however, he still sent 26 balls out of the park, tying his career high. 

The Dodgers have plenty of big bats in their lineup, but Hernandez would provide valuable insurance in case another corner outfielder gets hurt. The Dodgers are showing money is no object, and they'll do anything and everything to build the best team possible.

MLB Trade Rumors projects Hernandez to land a four-year, $80 million contract. The Dodgers’ 2024 payroll for luxury-tax calculation purposes projects to $286-289 million. The highest tax threshold is $297 million, above which teams are taxed 110 percent on any overage, so they have some room to spend before incurring MLB's harshest tax.

The Dodgers can never be counted out, and we'll see if that changes in the coming days and weeks. Can the rich keep on getting richer?