UPDATE (January 7, 7 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly are signing Teoscar Hernández to a one-year, $23.5 million contract.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers already improved their roster this offseason, the team continues to search for a right-handed hitting outfielder, and Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Pham have been among their reported targets.
Along with Hernández and Pham, Kiké Hernández and Jorge Soler are additional candidates. J.D. Martinez also remains a free agent, although the probability he would re-sign with the Dodgers is effectively zero due Shohei Ohtani’s presence.
Meanwhile, the market has been relatively robust for Teoscar Hernández even if there’s yet to be much traction toward signing with a team.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Dodgers are thought to be among the leaders to possibly sign Hernández:
As for Hernández, the Angels, Dodgers and Red Sox appear to be the frontrunners for the two-time Silver Slugger winner.
If signed by the Dodgers, Hernández would presumably become their regular starter in left field. He is coming off a down season with the Seattle Mariners, but still managed to bat .258/.305/.435 with 29 doubles, 26 home runs, 93 RBI, a 106 OPS+, .317 wOBA and 105 wRC+ over 160 games.
Where Hernández did excel was against left-handed pitching, as he hit .287/.307/.511 with 11 doubles, seven home runs and 27 RBI in 150 plate appearances.
From 2020-2022, he had three consecutive seasons of at least an .807 on-base plus slugging percentage and 130 wRC+. That stretch included a Silver Slugger Award in back-to-back years and selection to the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.
Areas for concern with Hernández include finishing the 2023 season with a career-high 211 strikeouts that ranked second overall in the American League. Hernández additionally was susceptible to chasing pitches outside of the strike zone and whiffs while having a low walk rate (5.6%).
Comparing Hernández, Pham & Soler
What Hernández and Pham may lack at the plate in comparison to Soler, they both make up with their ability to adequately play the outfield.
Hernández has primarily played right field in his career and led the AL in assists at the position for the past two seasons.
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