It’s been a historic offseason for the Dodgers, as Los Angeles has already spent a significant amount to land and lock up Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani. Now, the Dodgers have added former All-Star Teoscar Hernandez to the mix. Los Angeles has reportedly agreed to sign the 31-year-old to a one-year deal, in what is yet another significant add.
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A Look at Hernandez
Two-time Silver Slugger winner Teoscar Hernandez was shipped out to Seattle last offseason after what was an impressive run with the Blue Jays. Hernandez hit double-digits in home runs for five straight seasons (2018-22) and hit a career-high 32 in Toronto in 2021.
Hernandez got off to a slow start with the Mariners, as he hit just .230/.268/396 (.665 OPS) with nine home runs and 17 extra-base hits over his first two months. The 31-year-old found his stride come June, as he hit .272/.324/.456 (.780) with 17 home runs and 40 extra-base hits over the last four months. Those 40 extra-base hits were good for 40th in the Majors.
Hernandez is not a prototypical power hitter per se. He doesn’t get pull-happy, will go with pitches on the outer half of the plate, and has power to all sides of the field. Not to mention, the new Dodger demolishes fastballs thanks to his premium bat speed.
Hernandez has hit 52 home runs (t-19th) and 108 extra-base hits (19th) off fastballs from 2021-23, both good for the top 20 in the Majors.
On the flip side, Hernandez is a very aggressive hitter who will chase with regularity, strikes out a lot, and doesn’t walk much. Yet, it’s hard to find someone who can consistently barrel up baseballs like Teoscar Hernandez. Just last season alone, Hernandez ranked in the top 30 in Barrel/PA (8.6%).
Hernandez was rated as our fifth-best free agent hitter available this offseason. Per multiple reports, the Dodgers are set to give Teoscar Hernandez a one-year deal worth $23.MM with $8.5MM to be deferred.
Analysis
Interestingly, the power-hitting Teoscar Hernandez took a one-year deal after what’s been an impressive run for the veteran outfielder. However, with many teams tied up financially thanks to Bally Sports and other big-market teams in unfamiliar positions, this may be the reality for some of the remaining big-ticket free agents.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the rich get richer. The Dodgers don’t invest long-term money in the 31-year-old but do add a talented hitter who does bring something that Los Angeles needed in their lineup.
Before this signing, the Dodgers lineup — which now has seven players that hit 19 or more home runs last year — leaned heavily on left-handed hitters, as Shohei Ohtani, James Outman, Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Gavin Lux, and Max Muncy hit from the left side. Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Manuel Margot and Chris Taylor are among the the Dodgers that bat right-handed.
The addition of Hernandez not only gives the Dodgers more power from the right side but also someone who can slide in that left field slot. Hernandez does have good power and speed but has been a below-average defender in right.