Orioles Star to Dodgers? $105M Superstar Rumoured as Juan Soto’s…
The Los Angeles Dodgers may be World Series champions, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be satisfied with the current state of their roster.
Because Shohei Ohtani’s contract is so heavily deferred, and because he brings them so much additional revenue from the Japanese market, LA has more cash to play with than ever before. Plus, the Dodgers “only” won 98 games last season, so they aren’t even as dominant as they’re used to being in the regular season.
Now that they’re planning to move Mookie Betts back to the infield, either corner outfield spot could be wide open for the Dodgers in 2025. They are in on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, because they can spend as much money as they want, but perhaps there is an unexpected backup plan in the cards.
Of course, the Dodgers could bring back fan-favorite Teoscar Hernández after his All-Star season. But Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report also listed the Dodgers among the top suitors for Baltimore Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander, who hit 44 home runs this season.
“The Dodgers are also in on Soto, and nobody doubts that they’re a legitimate threat. They obviously have the finances, and Soto just got an up-close look at their winning ways in October,” Rymer said.
“But if the Dodgers don’t get Soto, what are the chances they simply bring back Hernández instead? Probably high. They know what he can do and that he wants to come back.”
Granted, Rymer never mentions Santander by name, so it doesn’t seem as though he believes the switch-hitter heading to Chavez Ravine is too great a possibility. But should it be?
Santander and Hernández have very similar offensive profiles, and are likely to sign for similar dollar amounts. Tim Britton of The Athletic projects a five-year, $105 million deal for Santander, and that could be a carbon copy of the deal Hernández ends up signing.
Even if Santander doesn’t seem like Plan A for the Dodgers right now, it’s worth keeping an eye on him as the market develops. The 30-year-old Venezuelan star could be just the latest in a long line of power hitters to have their best seasons in Dodger blue.
