The Los Angeles Dodgers are yet to sign a free agent after the 2026 season, but could make a move to bring back Kiké Hernandez for a 10th season with LA, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
Hernandez entered free agency after the Dodgers’ won the World Series.
“There is mutual interest in another reunion between Hernández and the Dodgers, though it’s unclear how Hernández’s health will affect future contract negotiations between the team and player,” Ardaya wrote.
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Hernandez first came to the Dodgers ahead of the 2015 season after the Miami Marlins sent him over in a trade. He made a splash in his first season as a Dodger, posting an .836 OPS — the highest of his career over the course of a season to this day.
He remained with the Dodgers for five more years, staying through the Dodgers’ first World Series championship in 32 years in the 2020 season. Hernandez left for the Boston Red Sox that offseason, and stayed there for two and a half seasons before Boston traded him back to LA.
Hernandez has been with the Dodgers ever since, winning the World Series in both of his full seasons since rejoining LA. The 33-year-old has played an important role in both seasons, featuring in more than half of the Dodgers’ games across each year.
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In 2024, Hernandez posted a 1.3 bWAR with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs. His .654 OPS that season was his highest mark since the 2021 season in which he hit 20 home runs and had a .786 OPS.
During the Dodgers’ most recent season, Hernandez hit 10 home runs and came through for LA with several big performances early in the postseason.
While not the best player on the Dodgers by a long shot, Hernandez has established himself as a fan favorite in LA, and has proven himself as a capable bat and defensive replacement in MLB. Dodgers Nation predicted a one-year, $6.5 million contract for Hernandez, which is more than affordable for the Dodgers.
Photo Credit: JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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4 Responses
Bring back Rojas and JT instead.
JT????? You’ve got to be kidding
You’ve got to be kidding. JT wants to come back to the Dodgers. He never should have left.
JT was a great player for the Dodgers. However, he is 41 years old now!