Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers have “serious interest” in Teoscar Hernandez

2.17pm: The Blue Jays also have interest in Hernandez but Antonio Santander appears to be Toronto’s top backup target if Soto isn’t signed, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (link X).

1.44pm: The Dodgers and Red Sox were previously linked Teoscar Hernandezearlier this offseason, and MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports that the Yankees are also eyeing the free agent slugger. The three suitors all have “serious interest” in Hernandez’s services, with one notable caveat: all three clubs are in the running to land him Juan Sotoso Hernandez is seen as the natural backup plan for all parties if Soto can’t be signed.

The Mets and Blue Jays are the other two notable teams still pursuing Soto. At the moment, all five teams appear to still be under consideration, although the Mets and Yankees have reportedly pushed offers up to the $710-$730 million range. Los Angeles is thought to be the least aggressive of Soto’s five suitors and perhaps seems more likely to break away from the group to pivot to Hernandez or another option, but Cotillo thinks Hernandez won’t make his decision until Soto signs .

Hernandez has openly said that returning to the Dodgers is “the priority” of his offseason, and “I’ll do everything in my power to come back… It’s great to be a part of this.” After a down year with the Mariners in 2023, Hernandez bounced back as best he could by winning a World Series and hitting .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs in 652 plate appearances with LA last season. Hernandez signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract last winter and now appears poised to land a much bigger multi-year deal this time around.

As sources tell Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (link The Sox made a push for Hernandez last year by offering him a two-year, $28 million contract that Hernandez turned down to take advantage of the greater flexibility of the Dodgers’ one-year offer, plus L.A. was the clearest contender in 2024. Hernandez “he has long been intrigued by the idea of ​​playing at Fenway Park and is a fan Alex Cora” Abraham writes, so with a World Series ring now in tow, Hernandez could now explore a move to Boston and perhaps a major role on a future Red Sox championship team.

The Yankees shouldn’t be overlooked as a contender, as Hernandez has also had plenty of success at Yankee Stadium over the years. New York may have the most incentive of all these teams to bolster their lineup if Soto were to leave, although adding a big bat in the infield is also a priority as Gleyber Torres AND Antonio Rizzo they are free agents and unlikely to return.

Turning down the Dodgers’ qualifying offer likely won’t have much impact on Hernandez’s market, though the Yankees and Red Sox would face a different level of penalty for signing the outfielder (or any player who turned down a QO) . Because New York was a luxury tax payer in 2024, signing Hernandez would cost the Yankees $1 million in international bonus pool money and their second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 draft. Boston would have to give up $500,000 of funds from the international pool and the second highest pick in the 2025 draft. Los Angeles, of course, would have to give up nothing to sign Hernandez, as he is one of the Dodgers’ free agents.