Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez Opens Up on Free Agency Process
The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed outfielder Teoscar Hernández, but the process wasn’t as seamless as fans hoped it would be. Hernández opened up about the free agency process in a recent interview with Grandes en los Deportes (the discussion was in Spanish, then translated into English).
More news: Teoscar Hernández Reveals Why It Took So Long to Sign With Dodgers
“Free agency, you know, not all players have the chance to reach that stage in their career,” Hernández said. “Obviously, for me, for my work group, and for my family, it was something very important to listen to what the Dodgers had to say. But we didn’t rule out the possibility of going to another team. At the end of the day, this is a business, and many times you try to find what’s best for your career and also for your family. In this case, the family influenced a lot in this decision to sign with the Dodgers again.”
The fan favorite had a stellar season in Los Angeles. From winning the Home Run Derby to becoming a World Series champion, there were numerous highlights for Hernández in 2024. He seemed like the most obvious free agent to return to the Dodgers, but the two parties had reached a point of contention in contract negotiations.
After Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets, teams that lost out on Soto quickly pivoted to Hernández making a reunion with the Dodgers even more difficult. Hernández, one of the most popular free agent outfielders this winter, revealed whether he received offers larger than three years.
“Some teams were willing to give me three or four years, but they didn’t make a concrete offer,” he said. “They didn’t say how much. When they approached our group and asked what we were looking for, we told them, and they said they could reach the number of years we wanted. But some teams had to make a move, like trading or finding pitching first.”
Ultimately, Hernández chose to return to Los Angeles. The deal is good for both sides as the Dodgers secured a right-handed hitter/outfielder, while Hernández has a chance to win another ring.
More news: Roki Sasaki’s Agent Reveals Timeline for Dodgers Target to Complete Process
Photo Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
