Why Teoscar Hernández Could Become a Dodgers Trade Candidate

Teoscar Hernández has enough power and recent production to help a contender, but the Dodgers may have a roster fit problem. Their outfield and designated hitter spots are crowded, and top prospect Josue De Paula is close to needing regular major league at-bats. That combination makes Hernández a plausible trade candidate this winter, even after Los Angeles won another World Series with him on the roster.

De Paula changes the outfield equation

De Paula made his major league debut in 2026 after the Dodgers promoted him directly from Double-A. His first 41 plate appearances produced a 1.081 OPS, and he added two walks in three postseason pinch-hit appearances. That’s a tiny sample, but the promotion itself signals that Los Angeles sees little left for him to prove against minor league pitching. He could begin 2027 at Triple-A Oklahoma City, yet a sustained return to the minors may be difficult to justify.

His defense complicates the assignment. Evaluators have questions about De Paula’s outfield work, and he could eventually spend more time as a designated hitter. But Shohei Ohtani occupies that role, while Kyle Tucker is in right field. Left field therefore looks like De Paula’s clearest route to an extended major league audition.

A left-field platoon with the left-handed De Paula and the right-handed Hernández is one possible arrangement. It could make sense in individual matchups, but it would also devote a significant share of a roster spot and Hernández’s salary to a part-time role. For a club with the Dodgers’ depth, that may not be an efficient allocation.

A crowded roster leaves few easy openings

Los Angeles has several established players competing for everyday work. Ohtani, Tucker, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Andy Pages and Max Muncy account for much of the lineup. Second base is less settled, though Tommy Edman is the favorite after signing through at least 2029; Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland are also available.

Muncy could be considered as a trade candidate because he is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract. But the Dodgers don’t have a ready-made third baseman waiting in the same way they have outfield prospects approaching the majors. De Paula and other young outfielders give the club more options to fill the corner spots, which strengthens the case for moving an established outfielder.

Hernández’s contract adds another reason to consider a deal. It includes a $15 million club option for 2028 with a $6.5 million buyout, plus a conditional $15 million option for 2029 if he spends 75 days on the injured list because of surgery for a specified injury. Given the team’s prospect depth and roster commitments, exercising the 2028 option looks unlikely. Los Angeles could decide this winter is the right time to redirect Hernández’s salary toward another need.

His production has been useful, but uneven

Hernández joined the Dodgers on a one-year, $23.5 million contract after a shaky 2023 season with Seattle. He had turned down longer offers, betting that a strong 2024 would improve his position for a larger, longer-term deal. The bet paid off: he hit .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs in 652 plate appearances, earned an All-Star selection and Silver Slugger honors, and won his first World Series title.

That season led to the three-year, $66 million deal he wanted with Los Angeles. The Dodgers won another championship in 2025, and Hernández contributed during the postseason. His regular-season production over the past two years, however, has been closer to his Seattle form than to his 2024 peak. Since Opening Day 2025, he has batted .256/.308/.441 with 41 home runs in 1,037 plate appearances, a 105 wRC+.

In 2026, his batting average and walk rate improved from the year before, though his 8.6% walk rate remained below the league average. His power fell. A hamstring strain kept him out from the end of May until the end of June, and he struggled for roughly two months after returning. Then Hernández went back to his old batting stance, a change that appeared to help: he posted a 1.015 OPS over his final 104 regular-season plate appearances before cooling off in the playoffs.

A 110 wRC+ is a solid contribution for a hitter entering his age-34 season, but it may not match what the Dodgers expect from a player at his salary. Hernández still hits the ball hard and posts solid barrel rates. His strikeouts and limited walks remain part of the package, while his defense in either corner outfield position is below average despite a strong throwing arm. The decline in power could reflect the stance change or lingering effects from the hamstring injury; either way, there’s room for a club with regular DH opportunities to manage his workload.

The price could draw outside interest

Hernández is due $14.5 million in 2027, with $8 million deferred until at least 2031. When the $6.5 million buyout attached to his 2028 option is included, the cost comes to $13 million for next season. For a 34-year-old bat coming off a 110 wRC+ campaign, that amount looks reasonable on a one-year basis. The Dodgers may be able to move him without covering part of the salary, while freeing money for other roster needs.

That price could interest teams that don’t like the available free-agent outfield options or don’t want to meet the expected cost for more prominent players such as Randy Arozarena, Seiya Suzuki or Teruaki Sato. Hernández offers a known major league bat with power, though a buyer would have to account for his strikeouts, limited walks, age and defensive limitations.

Seattle is an obvious fit on paper, but the Mariners may be reluctant to reunite with a player whose 2023 season there was a disappointment. The Padres, Giants and Diamondbacks could use outfield help, although a deal with a division rival may be less appealing. Other potential fits include the Braves, Phillies, Guardians, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles, Royals, White Sox, Twins, Astros, Rangers, Reds and Cubs, all of whom could seek help in a corner outfield spot or at designated hitter.

Hernández’s market will depend on how the winter develops and which teams find themselves short of right-handed power. The Dodgers have a productive veteran under contract, but they also have young outfielders pressing for opportunities. If De Paula is ready for a regular role, a trade could give Los Angeles more roster flexibility while offering another club an affordable, if imperfect, middle-of-the-order option.