Teoscar Hernández has signed a three-year, $66 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, extending his stay with the 2024 World Series champions. The deal, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, includes a fourth-year team option for $15 million, a $23 million signing bonus, and around $23 million in deferred money.
Hernández confirmed the agreement on his Instagram story, fulfilling his promise to return to the Dodgers after their championship win. The outfielder had a remarkable turnaround in 2024, finishing the season with a .272 batting average, 33 home runs, and an .840 OPS. He also won the 2024 Home Run Derby and played a crucial role in the Dodgers’ World Series victory.
The trend of deferred money in Dodgers contracts continues with Hernández, as the team looks to save money in competitive balance tax calculations. Players like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman have all agreed to deferred payments in their deals with the Dodgers.
The Hernández signing addresses a key need for the Dodgers this offseason, following the loss of Walker Buehler in free agency. The team also added pitching reinforcement with Blake Snell and secured outfield depth with the addition of Michael Conforto. Looking ahead, the Dodgers may still pursue re-signing Clayton Kershaw and potentially adding Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki to their roster.
Overall, Hernández’s extension with the Dodgers solidifies their roster for the upcoming seasons and continues the team’s strategic approach to contract negotiations.