The Money Game: Toescar Hernandez’s Contract Negotiations with Dodgers Reach Critical Stage
Teoscar Hernández remains one of the top available free agent hitters after a bounce-back season for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024.
The Dodgers have been hopeful to re-sign the All-Star outfielder, and Hernández has been open about wanting to return as well. However, the two sides have yet to agree on a new contract and may not be close, either.
The two sides have continued ongoing negotiations for a new contract, but there is said to be a gap between them. It was commonly assumed that was related to the length of a deal, but that may not be the case.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the two sides are at an impasse over Hernández’s salary or the total value of his contract.
The contract length does not appear to be a point of contention between the parties. The issue is money.
Hernández has reportedly been seeking a contract of three years and around $22-24 million per season. It’s unclear what the Dodgers have been at in their offers, but an issue of deferrals could be playing a part in the delay.
Hernández signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers last offseason that also included $8.5 million in deferred salary that is going to be paid from 2030-2039. The 32-year-old seems to be against taking deferrals once again.
If the Dodgers were to give Hernández the total value he’s seeking of $66-72 million with deferrals, that would bring the true value of the contract down, costing him money.
The Dodgers previously extended Hernández the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer, but he declined it as expected. That is surely playing into his market as well with other teams being less likely to pay him the total value he’s looking for and give up draft pick compensation.
Dodgers considering alternatives to Teoscar Hernández
With contract negotiations still at an impasse, the Dodgers are beginning to evaluate other options to Hernández, whether in the outfield or simply a right-handed hitting position player.
So far, they have shown interest in San Diego Padres free agent Ha-Seong Kim, Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox’ Luis Robert Jr. Of the group, Kim is the only infielder, while Suzuki and Robert are both outfielders who may be available for trade.
Even as the Dodgers explore potential fallback options to Hernández, the expectation around the league is that the two sides eventually come to an agreement.
