Dodgers Interview: Teoscar Hernández Highlights Contract Negotiations, Dodgers Reunion & More in Latest Interview
12/31/2024 07:50 PM
While the Los Angeles Dodgers have not offically announced the re-signing of fan-favorite Teoscar Hernández to the 3-year, $66 million deal that was reported this past week, Hernández has already spoken publicly about the process this offseason and why returning to Los Angeles was the main goal all winter.
In an interview with Grandes en los Deportes, Hernández stated that it was important for him to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he had intended to stay with the club all season.
Hernández made it known on multiple occasions about his desire to remain with the Dodgers about halfway through the 2024 regular season. Multiple fans and Dodgers media heads shared their passion for a Hernández extension, and those talks got louder when the Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, with Hernández playing a vital role in the National League Division Series and Fall Classic.
The 2024 season was one of the best years of his nine-year career. Hernández had a .272/.339/.501 slash line, a .840 OPS, and a 134 wRC+ while also hitting a career-high in home runs with thirty-three and driving in ninety-nine runs for Los Angeles.
His excellent first half earned him an all-star game appearance, and he became the first Los Angeles Dodger to win the Home Run Derby.
When the Dodgers offered Hernández the 1-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer, it was obvious that he would decline and cash in on his career year, seeking a multi-year contract.
Hernández stated in the interview that it wasn’t about the money but how the contract was structured, which is why he admitted to why the agreement took nearly two months.
More of a matter of how the contract was going to be structured… I have always said for me money is not the most important thing and I was simply waiting for them to structure me.
While Hernández stated that it was always his goal to return to the Dodgers and run it back for the 2025 season and beyond, he understood that baseball is a business, and he and his agent, Rafa Nieves, did not rule out signing with another ballclub.
This notion does bring light to the plethora of rumors surrounding Hernández and potential suitors, such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and even the San Francisco Giants hours before he agreed on a reunion with Los Angeles.
In passing, Hernández also hinted that if he’s healthy by the 2026 season, he would consider playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
Hernández did participate during the 2023 WBC, but the Dominican Republic was sent home early, not making it out of pool play with a 2-2 record.
Lastly, in the interview, the right-handed slugger touched on his relationship with the team, particularly two-way three-time Most Valuable Player Award winner Shohei Ohtani.
Hernández confirmed what we already knew, stating that Ohtani and he had a wonderful friendship that was essentially built out of nothing.
Ohtani, who is known to be a shy public figure, instantly gravitated to Hernández from spring training until the end of October.
With the 2024 year finally coming to a close, it’s an exciting time to be a Dodgers fan as Hernández’s deal should be announced soon, along with hopefully more moves the next month.
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