Negotiations between the Dodgers and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez stay at an deadlock, in response to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Whereas L.A. and Hernandez have lengthy expressed mutual curiosity in a reunion following a profitable 2024 marketing campaign that led to a World Collection championship, earlier reporting indicated a “hole” remained between the perimeters in negotiations. Evidently, that hole stays, as Rosenthal studies that Los Angeles brass are “exploring” right-handed alternate options to Hernandez they may add to their lineup as a substitute. The three names Rosenthal lists as potential choices for the Dodgers are free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, and White Sox heart fielder Luis Robert Jr. Rosenthal emphasizes, nevertheless, that it’s not but clear how critical the Dodgers are about these pursuits.
Of the three names floated, Suzuki is probably the very best substitute for Hernandez from the Dodgers’ perspective. He hit .283/.366/.482 with 21 homers and 16 steals in 132 video games for the Cubs final yr. His excessive on-base share and lesser energy make him a considerably completely different taste of hitter than Hernandez, however Suzuki’s 138 wRC+ really has the sting over Hernandez’s personal determine of 134. Each are usually thought to be below-average defenders in an outfield nook, however both one would offer the Dodgers with a giant right-handed bat so as to add to their lineup and a daily for the outfield nook not occupied by Michael Conforto.
Good a match as Suzuki can be, nevertheless, buying him could also be simpler stated than carried out. Rosenthal studies that the Cubs are “not inclined” to commerce Suzuki this winter. The membership entered the offseason with one thing of a logjam within the outfield as a result of presence of each Suzuki and Cody Bellinger, and that logjam solely grew when the membership added star proper fielder Kyle Tucker in a commerce with the Astros earlier this month. Since then, the Cubs dealt Bellinger to the Yankees. Whereas that leaves them in the same scenario because the one they entered the winter in, with two proper fielders on the roster and Suzuki seemingly relegated to common DH duties, the membership nonetheless appears to want preserving Suzuki relatively than parting methods with the proficient hitter.
Rosenthal means that the Cubs really feel that Suzuki can be troublesome to interchange on account of a skinny marketplace for impactful right-handed hitters. Apart from Suzuki, the center of Chicago’s lineup is occupied by switch-hitter Ian Happ in addition to lefty bats Tucker and Michael Busch, so Suzuki’s presence provides some much-needed right-handed thump to that blend. Suzuki additionally holds a no-trade clause, however his beforehand reported want to keep away from being a full-time DH may make the opportunity of a commerce that may make him L.A.’s common proper fielder a palatable choice. Speculatively talking, it’s doable that the Dodgers may embrace a proficient right-handed bat resembling Andy Pages in a bundle for Suzuki’s providers to be able to bridge that hole, although six seasons of staff management over Pages can be a steep value to pay. Suzuki for 2 extra seasons and and can make $19MM in each 2025 and ’26 earlier than hitting free company.
Robert, in the meantime, definitely has the potential to match Hernandez’s offensive affect however has but to exhibit consistency within the majors. The 27-year-old endured the worst season of his profession in 2024 as he hit simply .224/.278/.379 (84 wRC+) whereas hanging out at a 33.2% clip, however hit a way more palatable .287/.331/.511 (129 wRC+) over the prior three seasons and is only one season faraway from a 4.9 fWAR 2023 marketing campaign. Robert pairs that unstable however doubtlessly impactful bat with spectacular pace (he stole 23 bases in simply 100 video games this yr) and high quality protection in heart area. He additionally comes with loads of damage threat, as 2024 was simply the second time in his profession he performed in even 100 video games on account of a variety of journeys to the injured listing through the years.
Rosenthal means that if the Dodgers had been to take an opportunity on the talented-but-inconsistent Robert, he’d slot into heart area for Los Angeles. It’s unclear whether or not that may imply shifting Mookie Betts again to proper area and taking part in Tommy Edman at shortstop, or maybe a transfer to second base for Edman that pushes Gavin Lux to the bench (or off the staff by way of commerce) and leaves proper area open for some mixture of Andy Pages and James Outman. Robert is assured $17MM within the type of a $15MM wage and a $2MM buyout on a $20MM membership choice for 2026, however might be retained by way of membership choices by means of the top of the 2027 season if acquired. By way of acquisition price, it’s doable that Robert can be much less expensive than Suzuki provided that Rosenthal studies that the White Sox don’t count on to land a number of prime prospects in trade for Robert, although they’d desire a “significant piece” in return for the All-Star.
Kim is considerably distinctive as a possible goal for a number of causes. As a free agent, he’d price the Dodgers nothing however cash versus a commerce for Suzuki or Robert that may require some type of participant or prospect return headed the opposite means. He’s additionally an infielder who derives a lot of his worth from being a plus defender all throughout the infield filth. That makes him a tough positional match for a Dodgers membership that already figures to juggle Betts, Lux, and Miguel Rojas up the center. Whereas the membership may merely transfer Betts again to proper area, it’s doable they’d want to maintain him on the filth and play him alongside Kim with one at shortstop and the opposite at second base. That would go away Lux and not using a place, nevertheless, and likewise go away a gap within the outfield left to be inside choices or one other exterior addition.
Kim can be by far the weakest hitter of the three on the plate and an plain downgrade from Hernandez offensively. Whereas Kim has improved leaps and bounds on the plate after a lackluster rookie season, he’s nonetheless roughly a league common hitter with a 101 wRC+ in 2024 and a .250/.336/.385 (106 wRC+) line total since turning into a daily in 2022. It’s additionally price noting that he appears ticketed for the injured listing to start out the season after present process shoulder surgical procedure again in September, although Rosenthal studies that he’s focusing on a return to the diamond “early” within the 2025 season. Even so, that would go away the Dodgers using their inside choices to fill out the lineup card till Kim is able to return to motion.
