You remember that feeling in October 2024? The Dodgers were down five runs at Yankee Stadium. The crowd was deafening. It felt like the World Series was about to slip into a Game 6, and nobody in Los Angeles wanted to get back on a plane. Then, Teoscar Hernandez stepped up. He didn't just hit a double; he essentially broke the spirit of the Bronx.
Honestly, that one swing explains why the Dodgers just couldn't let him walk away.
There was so much talk about "one-year prove-it deals" when he first arrived. People called it a "pillow contract." Basically, a gamble. But by the time the parade hit the streets of LA, it was clear that Teo wasn't just a rental. He was the heartbeat of a clubhouse that usually feels more like a corporate boardroom.
The $66 Million Question: Why the Dodgers Re-signed Teoscar Hernandez
Wait, didn't everyone think he'd take a massive five-year deal somewhere else?
The market was weird. The Red Sox were poking around, and the Blue Jays fans were begging for a reunion. But Teo made it clear: he wanted to stay in blue. In January 2025, the Dodgers made it official with a three-year, $66 million contract.
It’s a classic Dodgers deal. You’ve got a $23 million signing bonus and a ton of deferred money—about $23.5 million of it. They love pushing payments down the road. It keeps the luxury tax hit manageable (around $19.4 million) while rewarding a guy who hit a career-high 33 home runs in 2024.
The Trade Rumors that Wouldn't Die
Fast forward to the Winter Meetings in late 2025. Suddenly, the internet is convinced he's being shopped. Bob Nightengale starts dropping reports that the Dodgers are "shopping" Hernandez to clear space for a run at Kyle Tucker or even a reunion with Cody Bellinger.
It felt like a gut punch to fans.
Managers always say the same thing. Dave Roberts called it a "fair question" to move him to left field, but he also made sure to mention that Teo is "our right fielder." Brandon Gomes, the GM, was even more blunt. He called a trade "unlikely."
Why would you trade a guy who:
- Won the 2024 Home Run Derby.
- Smashed 12 RBIs in the 2024 postseason.
- Is basically the glue between the Latin players and the rest of the roster.
You don't. You just don't do that.
Breaking Down the "Down" 2025 Season
Let’s be real for a second. 2025 wasn’t the same as 2024.
Teoscar battled some nagging injuries. His batting average dipped to around .225, and he wasn't exactly a Gold Glover out there. Statcast had him at -9 Outs Above Average, which... yeah, it’s not great. He was in the bottom 3% of the league defensively at one point.
But here is the thing: the power was still there.
Even on a "bad" year, he launched 25 home runs. His ISO (Isolated Power) stayed solid at .207. In the context of a lineup that features Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, you don't need Teo to be the MVP. You need him to be the threat that prevents teams from walking the big guys.
The Defensive Shift
There’s a lot of chatter about moving him to left field permanently. Right field at Dodger Stadium can be tricky, and with youngsters like Andy Pages showing off a cannon for an arm, the logic is sound.
Roberts admitted the "eye test" showed Teo's defense was at least average toward the end of the year. Sufficient. That’s the word he used. When you hit the ball as hard as Hernandez does, "sufficient" defense is plenty.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Contract
Everyone looks at the $66 million and thinks, "Wow, that's a lot for a 33-year-old outfielder."
But the Dodgers are playing a different game. Because of the deferrals, the "Net Present Value" of the contract is actually closer to $58 million. They are paying him $10 million in 2025, but $7.5 million of that is deferred.
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It’s clever. It’s strategic.
It allows them to keep the core of a championship team together while still having the flexibility to chase someone like Edwin Diaz or even a massive extension for a pitcher down the line.
The Verdict on Teoscar's Future in LA
So, is he going anywhere?
The latest whispers from insiders like Jon Heyman suggest the trade talk was mostly posturing. The Yankees might have looked, but the Dodgers weren't biting.
With Tommy Edman recovering from ankle surgery and the outfield depth looking a bit thinner than people realize, Teoscar Hernandez is more valuable in a Dodgers uniform than as a trade chip. He’s the guy who stays happy and positive even when he’s 0-for-4. You can't quantify that in a spreadsheet, but you can see it in the dugout.
Actions to Watch This Season
If you're tracking Teo’s impact, keep an eye on these specific things:
- The Left Field Move: Watch if he starts more games in left during Spring Training. If he does, it means the Dodgers are serious about optimizing their defense for another deep run.
- Plate Discipline: In 2024, he cut his strikeout rate by over 2%. If that number stays low in 2026, he’s going to have a monster bounce-back year.
- WBC Participation: He originally considered playing for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic but decided to skip it to focus on the MLB season. That tells you where his head is at.
The Dodgers aren't just a team; they're a machine. And Teoscar Hernandez is the spark plug that keeps the engine from stalling when the pressure gets high. He’s staying in Los Angeles, and honestly, the NL West should probably be worried about that.
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Check the Dodgers' spring training lineup cards regularly to see if Hernandez is logging more innings in left field, as this will be the first real indicator of how the coaching staff plans to hide his defensive regression while keeping his bat in the heart of the order.