Dodgers, Outfielder Now ‘Close’ on New Contract as Yankees, Red Sox Lurk
December 8, 2024
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are close on the terms of a new contract with their apparent Plan B to free agent Juan Soto, according to a new report, but are waiting to hear on their Plan A — along with four other teams.
According to Noah Camras and Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation, “Teoscar Hernández has made it clear all along his desire is to re-sign with the Dodgers. As of Sunday, the two sides are close, but the Dodgers are not yet ready to finalize it. There’s no current timetable for a deal to be consummated.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his 2-run home run with teammate Freddie Freeman #5 against the New York Yankees in the third inning during Game… LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his 2-run home run with teammate Freddie Freeman #5 against the New York Yankees in the third inning during Game Two of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Hernandez and the Dodgers are reportedly close on a new deal.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
The teams who don’t sign Soto — his other reported finalists include the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays — are ostensibly still going to need a corner outfielder who can hit for power. If not Soto, Hernández is a logical fallback option on the free agent market.
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According to Dodgers Nation, the Yankees and Red Sox are confirmed to have interest in Soto.
On Wednesday, one report circulated that Hernández and the Dodgers were “trying to nail the final details of a contract.” However, that report proved premature.
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It appears the market for Hernández, outfielder Anthony Santander, and others affected by Soto’s decision won’t accelerate until Soto formally notifies runner-up teams that they have been eliminated from his consideration.
Hernández, 32, hit 33 home runs, drove in 99, and batted .272 after signing a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers in January. In addition to making the National League All-Star team and winning a Silver Slugger Award, Hernández became the first Dodger player to win the Home Run Derby in July.
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The Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series in October and are looking to maintain their momentum into 2025. If they cannot swipe Soto, a linchpin of the Yankees’ success last season, they can do much worse than re-signing a player who established himself as a favorite in the clubhouse and among the team’s fan base.
Soto, 26, hit 41 homers, scored an American League-leading 128 runs, drove in 109, and reached base at a .419 clip batting ahead of MVP Aaron Judge with the New York Yankees in 2024.
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