Insider Reveals Latest Update on Kiké Hernandez’s Free Agency, Potential Dodgers Return
One of the biggest storylines many Dodgers fans care about this offseason is the free agency of Kiké Hernández.
Hernández is a fan favorite in Los Angeles, and his continued success in October has made him a player most Dodger fans don’t want to see on another team.
Earlier this offseason, Hernández did a fan event at Raising Cane’s where he expressed his desire to return to Los Angeles next season.
“I would love to be back,” Hernández said. “I truly believe that — we won the World Series a couple days ago — but I truly believe that this team is gonna be even better next year with all the pitching reinforcements.”
However, for now, there hasn’t been much information on his market.
At the Winter Meetings, Dodgers Nation caught up with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, who provided an update on Hernández’s market.
“I haven’t heard a ton in the last 24 hours about where he might land,” Morosi said. “I think part of that with the Dodgers, too, is they still have Chris Taylor, they just extended (Tommy) Edman, they still have Gavin Lux. I would say if they trade Lux, it creates s a clearer path for at-bats for Kiké on the the team at the moment.”
While there hasn’t been much information on Hernández’s free agent, Morosi does ultimately believe it’s a good fit for him to return.
“I still think it’s a really good for for Kiké with the Dodgers because you could tell how much the fans love him and vice versa,” Morosi said. B”ut I think that we have to wait and see a few things play out first with the Dodgers’ plans before saying that Kiké has a clear path there. There’s probably other teams, honestly, that have a greater need for him right now. The question, though, is would he actually want to go and sign somewhere else as long as the Dodger possibility is there?”
Hernández appeared in 126 regular season games this season, slashing .229/.281/.373 with 12 home runs, his most since 2021. He excelled in the postseason, though, slashing .294/.357/.451 with two home runs and an OPS of .808.
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Resign Kike’? Makes too much sense. Just like Teoscar Hernandez. They should Trade Lux in a package with Outman, Diego Cartaya (who will never be with the major league team, as long as Dalton Rushing is around) and somebody like Michael Grove who needs a chance to play for a team that could really use him. Lux’s value will never be higher than it is right now, especially since Mookie Betts will end up back at second base, no matter what Andrew Freidman likes to think. Plus with Edman, Rojas and Chris Taylor the Dodgers have more than enough experienced shortstops to bail out Mookie when he needs it and that just makes for Lux to be a disgruntled bench player…BRUH!
The Dodgers also have a good catcher in Hunter Feduccia who is floundering in AAA for about 4 years or so. I think should had replaced Barnes. You can’t let the man sit in Oklahoma forever. He should be on a major team roster. I do not think Mookie should play the infield but the Dodgers are bowing down to his demands. So Lux is out of luck. I think Lux, Feduccia, Outman and Cartaya should be the next personal to be traded. I have no clue why the Dodgers are keeping Taylor. He has had a real hitting problem for a few years now with many strikeouts.
Michael Grove was traded to the Cubs last season