The Los Angeles Dodgers already made the two biggest moves of the offseason thus far, signing highly-touted Japanese starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and dual-threat superstar Shohei Ohtani. It turns out they aren’t done just yet, making another massive move for a former All-Star slugger on Sunday.
The Dodgers already have one of the most lethal lineups on paper heading into the 2024 season with the likes of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith among others.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Dodgers will be adding former Seattle Mariners slugger Teoscar Hernández to this already loaded lineup on a one-year $23.5 million deal.
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
For the 2024 season, it is actually only $15 million that Hernandez will receive. Passan added that the team is deferring $8.5 million of his deal to be spread out from 2030 to 2039.
Of the $23.5 million in Teoscar Hernández’s deal with the Dodgers, $8.5 million will be deferred, to be paid out from 2030 to 2039, sources tell ESPN. The corner-outfield market is tough, and Hernández opted for a big one-year deal with the best team over other multiyear offers.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 8, 2024
This is similar to what the team did with Ohtani’s contract. Ohtani will only be paid $2 million per year for the duration of his contract, with the rest being paid out from 2034 to 2043.
As the saying goes, the rich get richer with this move for the Dodgers. And fans certainly had plenty to say on social media about this latest signing.
The Dodgers really got Teoscar Hernandez and only had to give him a one-year deal.
The Dodgers got their lefty killer who can also play against right-handed pitching.
What a dream offseason. This team is beyond loaded. https://t.co/IsEWidWv30
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) January 8, 2024
Do teams other than the Dodgers know that the offseason started over two months ago? https://t.co/r1G6EDcu9M
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) January 8, 2024
The Dodgers had already signed the best player on the market and the best pitcher on the market. They needed a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder, and they got the best one available there too. An incredible offseason — and they might still add another starting pitcher. https://t.co/AuoQgcZBm1
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) January 8, 2024
A lot of money but hey it's not my money and the Dodgers' lineup just managed to get EVEN better https://t.co/loZenFLmlc
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) January 8, 2024
Another great example of the Dodgers being opportunistic and getting a player that had a bit of a down year that wants to set himself up for a better multi-year deal. Dodgers get another one of their guys at the price/contract they felt comfortable with. Brilliant. https://t.co/XcCAh1dULP
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) January 8, 2024
Hernández is coming off a season where he recorded a .258 batting average with a .305 on-base percentage and 26 home runs, so he certainly provides a power element to this team that will certainly help.
These numbers are actually a bit of a step back for Hernández compared to his 2021 season, when he had a .296 batting average with a career-high 32 home runs.
If the Dodgers can get him to return to this form, there will simply be very few areas in their lineup for opposing pitchers to attack.
Even if they can get a repeat of his 2023 numbers, it is still a massive improvement that should reinforce the Dodgers’ status as the favorite to win the World Series next year.
