What alternatives to Teoscar could the Dodgers pursue?

December 21st, 2024

MLB.com is keeping track of all the latest free-agent and trade rumors involving the Dodgers right here.

Dec. 21: Dodgers looking at alternatives for Teoscar (report)
Teoscar Hernández played an integral in the Dodgers' 2024 World Series run. While Los Angeles and Hernández have both shown interest in a return for the current free agent, the Dodgers have reportedly been seeking other options.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), the Dodgers have explored a handful of intriguing right-handed-hitting options, which include Ha-Seong Kim in free agency and Luis Robert Jr. and Seiya Suzuki in trades. As Rosenthal reports, how serious and realistic those options are for the Dodgers remains to be seen.

Kim would likely be the most accessible option for the Dodgers, as the current free agent didn't play after Aug. 18 last season due to shoulder surgery and could miss the beginning of next season.

Robert is coming off a down season but the White Sox outfielder finished 12th in MVP voting in 2023 thanks to a 130 OPS+ and 38 home runs. Robert is owed $15 million in 2025 and has $20 club options in 2026-27 and is a potential trade candidate for the rebuilding White Sox.

Suzuki seems less likely to be moved given how aggressive the Cubs have been this winter. The Cubs outfielder will make $19 million in both 2025 and '26.

Dec. 9: Dodgers not done bolstering bullpen after re-signing Treinen (report)
Veteran reliever Blake Treinen is back with the Dodgers on a two-year, $22 million deal, but that doesn't mean the defending World Series champions are done adding to their bullpen. According to a report from The Athletic (subscription required), the club is "looking at the top of [the reliever] market," including free-agent left-hander Tanner Scott.

Scott, 30, has been one of the best relievers in the game the past two seasons, posting a 2.04 ERA with a 31.3% strikeout rate between the Marlins and Padres, earning his first All-Star selection in 2024.

Dec. 8: Dodgers facing gap in negotiations with Teoscar (report)
The Dodgers reached a one-year, $17 million deal with veteran outfielder Michael Conforto on Sunday. That doesn't necessarily preclude the club from also bringing back Teoscar Hernández, whose market could heat up after fellow outfielder Juan Soto reached a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets (per sources) on Sunday night.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that the Dodgers are still in on Hernández even after landing Conforto. With Tommy Edman likely slated for center-field duties, Conforto will handle one of the corner-outfield positions, leaving an available spot for Hernández or in-house options like Andy Pages and James Outman.

Hernández said last month that he would "do everything in my power" to come back to the defending World Series champions. However, his return is not a foregone conclusion.

While Dodgers reporter David Vassegh said Wednesday that the team and the slugging outfielder were "trying to nail the final details of a contract," ESPN's Alden Gonzalez hears that the two sides "have been unable to bridge the gap" in their negotiations over the past several weeks.

Meanwhile, there are at least three other teams interested in Hernández. One of them is the Red Sox, who intend to go after Hernández after coming up short in the Soto sweepstakes, a source told Feinsand. The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham adds that while the slugger has told people he would prefer to return to Los Angeles, he "has long been intrigued by the idea of playing at Fenway Park and he's a fan of [manager] Alex Cora."

The Yankees have "expressed serious interest," in Hernández, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. The Blue Jays are also in on Hernández, per Feinsand. However, they appear to favor switch-hitter Anthony Santander more among the non-Soto crop of power-hitting outfielders.

After signing a one-year deal with the Dodgers last offseason, Hernández had a banner year with Los Angeles, posting an .840 OPS and a career-high 33 home runs. He earned his second All-Star selection and won his third Silver Slugger Award.