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ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s been an offseason of few acquisitions to this point for the Dodgers.
A lot in order that, on the primary day of MLB’s annual winter conferences on the Signia by Hilton Orlando on Monday, essentially the most intriguing rumor surrounding the crew needed to do with a possible subtraction from their big-league roster.
In response to a number of experiences, Teoscar Hernández has come up within the Dodgers’ commerce talks with different groups this winter. USA Right this moment went so far as saying the membership was “shopping” the two-time All-Star, who’s coming into the second season of the three-year, $66-million deal he signed final offseason.
Nonetheless, each supervisor Dave Roberts and normal supervisor Brandon Gomes downplayed that notion whereas addressing reporters on Monday.
Dodgers proper fielder Teoscar Hernández hits a sacrifice fly to attain Dodgers’ Will Smith in the course of the Recreation 7 of the World Collection in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays on Nov. 1.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Occasions)
“Teo certainly fits [our roster still],” Roberts stated. “He’s helped us win two championships. He’s one of my favorites.”
“That doesn’t feel likely,” Gomes added of the opportunity of buying and selling Hernández. “Obviously, you can never say never on those types of things. I know that’s come up [in reports]. But that’s not something we anticipate at all.”
The thought of the Dodgers buying and selling Hernández has felt like a protracted shot from the beginning. Although the 33-year-old slugger suffered an inconsistent and injury-plagued common season in 2025 — each on the plate, the place he had 25 residence runs however hit solely .247, and particularly defensively, the place he had a number of notable lapses after transferring to proper area — the 10-year veteran has made essential contributions in every of the Dodgers’ two World Collection runs the final couple years, and has served in a mentor function to younger gamers within the clubhouse; none extra so than Andy Pages.
Granted, transferring Hernández might assist the Dodgers get youthful, which has been a purpose for the entrance workplace this offseason as they attempt to navigate their growing older and costly roster. And his wage could possibly be repurposed if the crew have been to make a splashier free-agent signing.
However for now, the Dodgers proceed to specific perception of their present core, with Roberts noting Monday that “we’re very confident with where the roster is right now” and that “there’s really no big splash we feel needs to be made.”
Plus, transferring Hernández would additionally solely additional exacerbate the crew’s pre-existing want for outfield assist, because the membership continues to guage each the free agent market (the place gamers corresponding to Cody Bellinger or Harrison Bader determine to be higher, and extra inexpensive, matches than a probable $400-million signing of high free-agent choice Kyle Tucker) and commerce potentialities (corresponding to Brendan Donovan or Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Pink Sox or — in a much less doubtless state of affairs — Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians).
Roberts did go away the door open to doubtlessly transferring Hernández again to left area, the place he spent the vast majority of 2024 for the Dodgers earlier than shifting over to his extra pure proper area place final yr.
Nonetheless, in Roberts’ eyes, Hernández’s protection was “at least average” in proper after an August collection in Colorado when he made a pair notably evident errors on fly balls. His career-long defensive metrics have additionally been stronger in proper area than left.
“I do think that with the versatility [of our roster] and how we potentially shape this roster, there’s some options,” Roberts stated. “But right now, he’s our right fielder.”
