Dodgers, Teoscar Hernandez Contract Talks Have Stalled: Sources

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Teoscar Hernández’s camp have not talked in a week, sources told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain which he revealed on Monday’s episode of Dodgers Dougout Live.

The talks between the two sides have stalled as Hernández’s free agency has taken significantly longer than expected to complete.

“What I can tell you, based on my sources, is that the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernández, they haven’t communicated for over a week,” McKain said on Monday’s episode of Dodgers Dougout Live. “There’s been no communication between the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernández.”

While the two sides haven’t talked in a week, that doesn’t mean a deal is dead. However, it appears either Hernández’s camp or the Dodgers — or both — are going to have to budge to complete a deal.

“The deal that the Dodgers are offering Teo, I don’t think that he will ultimately accept,” McKain said. “I think the Dodgers will have to up their offer.”

However, there will likely have to be some compromise on both sides.

“I do think that he has earned a nice contract to be back with this team. We’re gonna see how badly, though, he wants to be back,” McKain said. “It might require him to take a little less to be back on a World Series contending club that’s trying to defend their title.”

Dodgers Nation reported before the Winter Meetings that the two sides were off on the average annual value and the signing bonus, not the years. Moreover, Dodgers Nation reported that Hernández did not want deferrals in his contract.

While other suitors have entered the sweepstakes for Hernández, he’s yet to receive the contract offer he’s looking for. Thus, his market has stalled.

Hernández is not a player the Dodgers usually would spend big on, as he’s a below-average defender and strikes out a lot. However, the Dodgers also know his impact on the club — both on and off the field — and have to weigh all of those things while also ensuring they don’t limit themselves for the next few seasons.

“For where they’re at right now, the pros outweigh the cons,” McKain said. “It’s just a matter of getting to a contract they feel good about. …

“If it ultimately ends up where Teoscar’s back on this team, you can guarantee yourself that the Dodgers got him back on the contract they wanted to sign him on.”

Thus, the Hernández saga rolls on.

Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images