Los Angeles Dodgers are doing their level best to keep the band together by re-signing Teoscar Hernández. After winning their second World Series in five years, and after announcing that multi-Gold-Glove-winner Mookie Betts will be moving back to the infield, the Dodgers had a few holes in their outfield. The most obvious choice seemed to be a player the club has grown to love, a slugger hit 33 home runs for Los Angeles this past season, a leader who helped them win it all.
It took some time, but on late Friday night Jon Heyman reported that Hernández and the Dodgers were in agreement on a three-year, $66 million contract, with a $15 million club option for 2028.
Last season Hernández signed a one-year, $23.5 million deal with Los Angeles, with $8.5 million deferred into the next decade. By all accounts, Hernández was in the market for a four-year deal, but settled on one less guaranteed season (with a club option) for the right amount of money and the right set of teammates.
As reported by Sonja Chen at MLB.com, Hernández posted “I’m back” on his Instagram story shortly before news of the deal broke.
Hernández immediately took to Los Angeles after previously playing in Seattle and Toronto, hitting six home runs in his first month with the Dodgers, and then only falling off that pace in July, when he slugged just four. In all, Hernández played in 154 games, slashing .272/.340/.501, which equates to a 137 OPS+ (he was 37% better than the average player), and was worth 4.3 bWAR. At the current metric of $8 million per bWAR, even without the massive deferral, Hernández still provided nearly $8 million in excess value. Considering the Dodgers only paid him $15 million in cash, the savings were even greater.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Hernández’s new deal comes with a $23 million signing bonus, which will offset the $23 million in additional deferred money.
Prior to the off-season, MLB Trade Rumors predicted Hernández would get 3/$60M. His deal with the Dodgers is slightly above that, but when the deferment is calculated, it will reduce the net present value below $20 million per season. For competitive balance tax purposes, Los Angeles will be assessed at $22 million per year. However, according to MLB Trade Rumors, “the specific payout structure, which hasn’t been fully reported, will determine how MLB calculates the contract for tax purposes.”
Hernández slots rights back in the four-hole in the Dodgers lineup, between left-handed hitters Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy, and will anchor left field next to Tommy Edman in center, and the newly-acquired Michael Conforto in right. With the Dodgers, they never stop tinkering, the never stop seeking to improve, and when they find a player they vibe with, one who is an asset on and off the field, one who made a game-saving throw in Game 4 of the World Series, they lock him up on a deal that works for both the player and the team. Teoscar Hernández re-signing with the Dodgers was the easiest and best bet of the off-season.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
