The Dodgers were linked to an All-Star infielder as Kiké Hernandez remains an unrestricted MLB free agent.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off back-to-back World Series titles and are looking to win a third straight championship in 2026.
A huge reason for their success in the MLB playoffs has been Enrique Hernandez, a versatile utility player who always shines in October. This year was no different for the 34-year-old veteran.
Across 17 postseason appearances, Hernandez collected 16 hits, five extra-base hits including one home run and seven RBIs. He also came up with huge defensive plays that helped Los Angeles defeat the Toronto Blue Jays in the Fall Classic.
Now Hernandez is entering unrestricted free agency once again. While he has found the most success of his 12-year professional career with the Dodgers, a reunion is not guaranteed despite mutual interest.
Hernandez’s situation has become more complicated during the MLB offseason. He recently underwent left elbow surgery to repair a torn tendon. During an appearance on “Baseball & Coffee” with former big-league reliever Adam Ottavino, Hernandez revealed the injury was more severe than initially believed.
“They went in thinking it was going to be an extensor release, and when they went in, they realized I had torn that thing completely off the bone. So it turned out to be an extensor repair. I’ll be out for, like, a month or two next year,” Hernandez said. That timetable means he could miss all of spring training and much of the first half of the season.
On Tuesday, a new report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan floated a trade idea that would send St. Louis Cardinals All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan to Los Angeles, potentially solving the Hernandez problem. Passan detailed why Donovan could be moved and explained he believes there is a 75% chance it happens.
“The Cardinals are not eager to trade Donovan, but the market for him is percolating, and a number of teams see the 28-year-old as an option at second base, third base or left field,” Passan wrote. He then listed the Dodgers as the top suitor among potential contenders for his services.
