The Dodgers and the outfielder Teoscar Hernandez are interested in seeing each other again after a successful season together, but no contract has yet been concluded. ESPN’s Alden González reports that the two sides have been negotiating for weeks but have been “unable to close the gap.”

Hernández, now 32, was a free agent a year ago after a poor season. After hitting .283/.333/.519 for a wRC+ of 132 with the Blue Jays during the 2020-22 season, he was traded to the Mariners prior to the 2023 season and went on to hit .258/.305/.435 106 wRC+. Seattle let him hit the open market without a qualifying offer and Hernández remained without a contract until January. He received a two-year, $28 million offer from the Red Sox, but decided to bet on himself and sign a one-year contract with the Dodgers that paid him $23.5 million, albeit with a deferment.

The move worked out well for both sides. Hernández posted a .272/.339/.501 line and a 134 wRC+ that year, back to his previous pace, making his only season in Seattle seem like a blip. He also pitched well in 16 postseason games as the Dodgers won the World Series. While celebrating that title, he openly expressed his desire to return to the Dodgers.

Last month, ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote that Hernández could be one of the first big names to sign this winter, but that hasn’t happened. Given that Hernández had a frustrating time in free agency last time, it would make sense that he would want a quick fix this time around. But given his stronger platform year, he obviously wanted fair market value and wouldn’t just accept any deal that was put in front of him.

The road back to Los Angeles might have gotten a little foggy lately. The Dodgers just signed Michael Conforto added another corner outfielder to the roster yesterday. The club reportedly remains interested in Hernández even with Conforto, but that could reduce the urgency. Your current outfield projection would probably see Conforto in a corner, Tommy Edman in the middle and Andy Pages in another corner, with James Outman all the depth and view Dalton Rushing lurking in Triple-A. Edman can also play in the middle infield, but the Dodgers appear to be firmly entrenched there Mookie Betts, Miguel Rojas And Gavin Lux. Using the designated batsman’s spot is not an option for us Shohei Ohtani there almost every day.

Conforto, Outman and Rushing are all left-handed, so there may be room for Hernández in a platoon role, but he’s certainly looking for more than that. After his strong bounce-back season in 2024, MLBTR projected he could get a three-year, $60 million deal.

The gap between the Dodgers and Hernández could perhaps open the door for other suitors Juan Soto The frenzy just ended and the Mets ended up in the winner’s circle. The Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays were reportedly the finalists, so those clubs could now look for alternatives and all three have been linked to Hernández. The free agent outfield market also continues to be present Anthony Santander, Jurickson Profar, Max Kepler and others, but Soto, Conforto and Tyler O’Neill have gotten out of control in the last few days. The trade market could play a role Cody Bellinger, Lane Thomas, Wilyer Abreu and other.

If Hernández ends up elsewhere, the Dodgers will receive compensation since he rejected a qualifying offer from them. Because the Dodgers paid the Competitive Balance Tax last year, they would only receive modest compensation, a selection after the fourth round of the upcoming draft. Penalties would be imposed on the signing team, with the exact nature of the penalties depending on whether that club pays competition balance tax in 2024 or is a revenue sharing recipient.