SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 27: Teoscar Hernandez #35 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after his two-run home run during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at T-Mobile Park on June 27, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed outfielder and designated hitter Teoscar Hernández to a one-year, $23.5 million deal on Monday morning.
The former Seattle Mariners star will be added to the list of Dodgers marquee signings this offseason, including pitchers Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow, and center-fielder Manuel Margot. Hernandez is expected to share left-field duty with Margot and Chris Taylor.
Eight million dollars of Hernandez’s $23.5 million salary will be deferred and paid off between 2030 and 2039, per sources. In total, Hernandez’s one year with the Dodgers will cost them more than $32 million.
Hernandez has proven to be a big investment for the Dodgers, as the 2021 all-star will push their payroll upward of $270 million and into the second level of the MLB’s luxury tax bracket, meaning the Dodgers will pay a 12.5% surcharge in addition to the 50% they already owe for crossing the original $237 million threshold for payroll.
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His potential as a hitter could make it all worth it.
The 31-year-old made his debut in the major leagues for the Houston Astros in 2016 after coming out of the Dominican Republic in 2011. After four consecutive seasons hitting over 20 home runs with the Toronto Blue Jays, Hernandez went to the Mariners last offseason where he hit 26 homers in 160 games and averaged .258/.305/.435 in 2023. Now, in 2024, Hernandez will look to produce similar numbers in L/A.
Hitting in a stacked batting order with the likes of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith, Hernandez will have an opportune chance for RBIs. He has also been especially productive against left-handed pitchers, slugging .511 against them last season. The Dodgers hope he will perfectly complement new teammates and left-handed hitting outfielders Jason Heyward and James Outman.
The Dodgers ended their season last year after being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Division Series three games to none. They last appeared in the World Series in 2020, where they beat the Tampa Bay Rays four games to two in the series.
Together, Dodgers fans are hoping that new signings like Ohtani and Hernandez will offer the extra push they need to get back to the biggest stage of America’s pastime.
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