LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ spectacular offseason received even higher late Sunday night time, because the membership and All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández agreed to a one-year, $23.5 million contract, sources confirmed to MLB.com. The membership has not confirmed the deal.
Even after including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot, the Dodgers have been available in the market for a right-handed-hitting outfielder that would hit lefties and maintain his personal towards right-handed pitching.
Hernández was recognized as an early goal for the Dodgers this winter. The 2-time Silver Slugger had loads of different provides, together with two-year offers from the Pink Sox and Angels, in keeping with sources, however finally selected a one-year pact with the Dodgers in an effort to be a part of what ought to be one of many high offenses within the Majors, maybe even the very best.
A constant energy supply, Hernández is considered one of 12 gamers to hit at the very least 25 homers in every of the previous 4 full seasons. That features his 26 dingers final 12 months with the Mariners, whom he joined following an offseason commerce from Toronto. But his 2023 season didn’t fairly stay as much as expectations for a participant who acquired MVP votes and was a Silver Slugger winner in 2020 and 2021.
Whatever the ballpark, one factor Hernández has at all times excelled at is hitting left-handed pitching, with a profession .887 OPS towards southpaws. With the Dodgers, Hernández would get a lot of the begins in proper discipline towards left-handers and would slide over to left discipline towards right-handers, as Mookie Betts initiatives to play most of his video games at second base. Chris Taylor can even get at-bats as a utility man this season.
With Hernández on board, the Dodgers will doubtless not be including any extra place gamers this winter. The membership has explored choices at shortstop, however nothing has materialized through commerce, notably with the Brewers for Willy Adames.
After registering a wRC+ of 130 or higher in every of his closing three years with the Blue Jays, Hernández turned in a 105 wRC+ with the Mariners. His anticipated weighted on-base common declined for the third straight 12 months, right down to .336, and his .741 OPS was his lowest since his 2016 debut 12 months with the Astros. Hernández noticed simply 100 at-bats with Houston earlier than he was dealt to the Blue Jays previous to the 2017 Commerce Deadline.
Plate self-discipline has by no means actually been Hernández’s forte, and that was very true final season. His chase charge was a career-worst 35.2 %. He recorded a career-low 5.6% stroll charge towards a 31.1 % strikeout charge. His 211 Okay’s and 35.8% whiff charge have been every close to the highest amongst certified gamers.
Hernández typically stung the ball at any time when he did make contact, as evidenced by his stellar 49.4 % hard-hit charge and 13.8 % barrel charge. The 31-year-old actually punished four-seam fastballs to the tune of a .302 common, .659 slugging proportion and an especially excessive 72.4% hard-hit charge.
He’s not an elite defender, however Hernández does present worth within the outfield because of his sturdy, correct arm in proper discipline. His 12 assists have been tied for the third most amongst all outfielders final season, and his 22 assists over the previous two seasons path solely the Nationals’ Lane Thomas.
Hernández’s most efficient full season up to now got here in ‘21, when he socked 32 homers, drove in 116 runs and compiled a .296/.346/.524 slash line with Toronto.