The Los Angeles Dodgers stay the No. 1 alternative for All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández in free company, however the two sides stay aside in contract negotiations, a supply acquainted with the negotiations informed Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain which he completely shared on the Dodgers Dougout Dwell Podcast Thursday evening.
Hernández needs to re-sign with the Dodgers — as he has for the previous few months — however the two sides stay aside on the typical annual worth and the signing bonus, per a supply. Furthermore, Hernández doesn’t need any deferrals in his contract.
Whereas the Dodgers stay Hernández’s desire, the brand new No. 2 staff within the race is the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hernández is presently in Florida figuring out with Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and would welcome a return to Toronto. Whereas the Dodgers preserve their standing as the favourite, Hernández would contemplate becoming a member of Toronto if their supply was considerably higher — or, say, had a fourth yr. Since Hernández has a qualifying supply hooked up to him, although, any non-Dodgers staff that indicators him would lose a draft choose.
Whereas the Dodgers and Blue Jays stay the highest two candidates to signal Hernández, there are different groups concerned. The Boston Pink Sox stay a chance to signal Hernández. The New York Yankees stay concerned, nonetheless, they’re prioritizing a left-handed bat, sources say.
Whereas these 4 groups have been identified to be in on Hernández, Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain has realized that two extra groups have an interest — and each are within the Nationwide League.
The Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies have checked in on Hernández, nonetheless sources say there hasn’t been a lot progress made on both staff.
So, there at the moment are six groups within the Hernández sweepstakes: Dodgers, Blue Jays, Pink Sox, Yankees, Phillies, and Reds. The primary three groups have all made formal gives to Hernández, McKain has realized.
This week on the Winter Conferences, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts made it identified he needed the staff to re-sign Hernández.
“It could be powerful,” Roberts stated when requested about probably dropping and changing Hernández. “Clearly I’m an enormous fan of Teo. We have now a fantastic relationship. His phrases, he cherished the whole lot about being a Dodger, and I’m at all times going to be a Teo fan. There’s not a complete lot of fellows that may begin 157, 158 ballgames and publish after which to be that productive. Then you definately layer on being in a giant market, serving to us win a championship. So these gamers don’t come round fairly often. …
“It could be laborious for me to not see him coming again.”
Whereas Roberts didn’t cover his emotions of wanting Hernández again, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was understandably a bit extra subdued in his response.
“Whereas we’re hopeful, on the identical time, if he finally ends up signing someplace else, we’ve no alternative however to want him nicely and on a private stage we’ll be actually comfortable for him and professionally not a lot,” Friedman stated.
“He had a very good yr. He put himself in a fantastic place and I do know he has talked about desirous to (re-sign), and I do know that we’ve talked about him desirous to, and he and his household get to undergo the curiosity and determine what makes probably the most sense for them.”
Whereas Hernández in the end needs to remain in Los Angeles, there’s no present timeline for a deal to be consummated. Nevertheless, at any second, he may obtain a proposal from a staff that pushes it throughout the end line — whether or not or not it’s from the Dodgers or another person.
Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain contributed to this report.
Photograph Credit score: Denis Poroy-Imagn Photos
Have you ever subscribed to our YouTube channel? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to remain updated on all the newest Dodgers information, rumors, interviews, livestreams, and extra!
