Dodgers To Sign Teoscar Hernandez, Continuing Offseason Spending Spree

The 31-year-old outfielder would join an already loaded roster in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' outfield is getting the right-handed bat president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman wanted. According to multiple reports Sunday night, veteran Teoscar Hernández has agreed to terms on a one-year contract.

Reporter Moises Fabian of 97.9-FM in New York was the first to report the agreement. ESPN's Jeff Passan was the first to report the contract details:

BREAKING: Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $23.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Hernández joins Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow on the new-look Dodgers, who add another All-Star bat to the lineup.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 8, 2024

According to multiple reports, $8.5 million of the $23.5 million will be deferred from 2030-39. That will reportedly lower his salary for competitive balance tax purposes below $20 million, potentially allowing the Dodgers to pay fewer taxes at the end of the season.

Hernandez's contract reportedly includes several performance bonuses as well:

Incentives in Teoscar Hernández's Dodgers deal, per source:

- $1 million if he wins Silver Slugger
- $500k if he finishes 11th-15th in MVP voting
- $2 million if he finishes 6th-10th in MVP voting
- $3 million if he finishes 1st-5th in MVP voting

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 8, 2024

The Dodgers had already committed more than $1 billion in contracts to free agents Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jason Heyward and Joe Kelly this offseason. All but $20 million of Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million contract was also deferred, allowing the Dodgers to spend more freely on their 2024 roster. 

In signing Hernández to bolster the right-handed hitting side of the lineup, Friedman is taking full advantage of the Dodgers' newfound payroll flexibility.

Hernández figures to slot into the left side of an outfield that features James Outman, Jason Heyward, Chris Taylor and Manuel Margot. Mookie Betts will spend the majority of his time in 2024 at second base after playing the majority of his career in right field.

Twice a Silver Slugger award winner with the Toronto Blue Jays, Hernández was traded to the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2023 season. He batted .258 with 26 home runs, 93 RBIs, 29 doubles, two triples, and an OPS of .741 in his only season in Seattle.

Hernandez dominated against left-handed pitching (.887 OPS, 136 wRC+) last season, which filled a need in the Dodgers' left-handed heavy lineup.

Teoscar Hernandez’s career stats:

vs. LHP: .887 OPS, 136 wRC+
vs. RHP: .772 OPS, 110 wRC+

He has 20+ home runs in five straight full seasons. He crushes LHP. He can hold his own against RHP.

Sounds like he’s exactly what Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers are looking for. https://t.co/hbi4L72GY8

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) January 7, 2024

Against southpaws last season, the Dodgers were among the league's best teams, ranking fifth overall with an OPS of .789. The addition of Hernández figures to boost that number, particularly with rivals seemingly loading up on lefties.

The Atlanta Braves recently traded for veteran starter Chris Sale and extended his contract. The San Francisco Giants recently acquired veteran left-hander Robbie Ray. The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez. 

Adding another clutch postseason bat doesn't hurt, either. The Dodgers combined to hit .111 with a  .311 OPS in their three-game NLDS sweep against the Diamondbacks last October. In 2022, Hernandez appeared in two playoff games for the Blue Jays, hitting .250 with two home runs and four RBIs.

Hernández figures to bat in the middle of the lineup against left-handed pitching, and could move down in the lineup against right-handers.

However manager Dave Roberts configures it, an already intimidating lineup just got better.