The Dodgers Trade for Kiké Hernández Will Turn Out To Be a Steal for LA
The Los Angeles Dodgers started off their leadup to the MLB trade deadline on Tuesday, not with a bang, but with a move that makes a lot of sense for the franchise.
Los Angeles traded for Boston Red Sox outfielder Kiké Hernandez, reuniting the former Dodger with the franchise he’d called home for six seasons and shoring up a shaky middle infield in the process.
Hernandez quickly became a fan favorite in his first stint with LA, as he had showcased solid speed, versatility, and a good enough bat to make his mark with the team.
His ability to play both shortstop and second base will help the Dodgers immensely, after a season that’s seen Miguel Vargas be sent down to Triple-A, Miguel Rojas struggling to find his form at times, and Mookie Betts coming in to play the infield a lot.
Hernandez has had a rough go of it for the Red Sox this season, hitting .222 with six home runs and 31 RBI, but the utility man’s versatility around the diamond is where the Dodgers will find the most value in the reunion.
Also, the Dodgers acquired Hernandez for relievers Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman, plus Boston gave LA a significant amount of cash as part of the trade.
Hagenman had pitched well for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers this year, compiling a 2.78 ERA over 25 appearances, but it was unlikely that the 26-year-old would find a role in the Dodgers big league bullpen, making him expendable.
Robertson had been up and down between Triple-A and the bigs multiple times this year, and he’d been unreliable in his MLB stints with a 6.10 ERA.
Ultimately, the acquisition of Hernandez is a low risk, potentially high reward trade, and it’s one that directly addresses one of the franchise’s significant needs.
The Dodgers are sure to make more moves before the trade deadline hits on August 1 — they seem poised to upgrade the starting rotation — but the team’s first foray into the trading frenzy will likely be a big win as long as Hernandez can provide some stability defensively, something that he’s been more than able to do over his career.
And with that bargain cost, the franchise almost had to take a flier on the beloved fan favorite.
Photo Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
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