2:17 p.m: The Blue Jays are also interested in Hernandez Anthony Santander According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (X-Link), Toronto appears to be their top backup target if Soto isn’t signed.

1:44 p.m: The Dodgers and Red Sox were previously linked Teoscar Hernandez‘s market earlier this offseason, and Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com 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 for the signing Juan SotoTherefore, Hernandez is seen as a natural backup plan for all parties if Soto cannot be signed.

The Mets and Blue Jays are the other two teams known to still be pursuing Soto. At the moment, all five teams appear to still be in discussions, although the Mets and Yankees have reportedly increased the bid to between $710 million and $730 million. The assumption is that Los Angeles is the least aggressive of Soto’s five candidates and that he may be more likely to move away from the field and turn to Hernandez or another option, but Cotillo expects Hernandez to make his own decision will only meet after Soto has signed.

Hernandez has openly said that a return to the Dodgers “the priority” his offseason and “I’ll do everything in my power to come back… It feels great to be a part of it.” After a down year with the Mariners in 2023, Hernandez bounced back in the best way possible, winning a World Series last season and hitting .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs over 652 plate appearances for LA. Hernandez signed a one-year, $23.5 million deal last winter and now appears poised to sign a much larger, multi-year deal this time around.

As sources tell Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (X-Link), Hernandez still prefers to stay with Los Angeles, although the Red Sox themselves have a strong case for the slugger’s services. The Sox put pressure on Hernandez last year by offering him a two-year, $28 million contract, which Hernandez declined to take advantage of the greater flexibility of the Dodgers’ one-year offer, and besides, LA was the clearer contender through 2024. Hernandez”has long been intrigued by the idea of ​​playing at Fenway Park and is a fan of it Alex Cora” writes Abraham, and with a World Series ring in tow, Hernandez could now be considering a move to Boston and perhaps a big role on a future Red Sox championship team.

The Yankees shouldn’t be overlooked as contenders, as Hernandez has also had great success at Yankee Stadium over the years. New York might have the most incentive of any of these teams to bolster the lineup if Soto departs, although adding a big hitter in the infield has also been a priority since then Gleyber Torres And Anthony Rizzo are free agents and are unlikely to return.

Rejecting the Dodgers’ qualifying offer likely won’t have much impact on Hernandez’s market, although the Yankees and Red Sox would face different penalties for signing the outfielder (or a player who declined a QO). Because New York was a luxury taxpayer 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 in international pool funds and its second-highest 2025 draft pick. Of course, Los Angeles wouldn’t have to give up anything to sign Hernandez since he’s one of the Dodgers’ free agents.