Hernandez put the Dodgers on the board in Game 7 of the World Series with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning, and has been a consistent performer when games matter the most.
Regardless of his track record, the Dodgers are listening to trade requests for the 33-year-old as they look to revamp their outfield over the offseason. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney, the Dodgers view a trade involving Hernandez as unlikely but possible considering the two-time All-Star’s weaknesses as a defender.
Hernandez ranked 33rd of 36 players last season in Outs Above Average among right fielders, but his contract and hitting ability is intriguing enough for teams across the league to pick up the phone and dial Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes’ number.
However, The Baseball Insiders host Robert Murray thinks that a trade deal involving Hernandez is unlikely, barring a surprise signing of a top free agent outfielder such as Kyle Tucker.
“Listening does not mean shopping. Listening is what all teams do on probably 99.9 percent of players with the exception honestly being Shohei Ohtani,” Murray said on The Baseball Insiders. “Teoscar, teams are checking in there for sure, but I would categorize a potential deal as unlikely. He’s a great fit in L.A. and he’s somebody who is honestly tailor-made for the Dodgers. He wants to be there and I just can’t see the Dodgers doing that.”
The Dodgers have made a sizable financial commitment to Hernandez, who is owed $12 million in 2026 and $14.5 million in 2027. If Tucker or another top outfielder was brought in, trading away Hernandez could make sense from both a financial and roster size point of view.
Considering Hernandez’s offensive firepower, any defensive upgrade the Dodgers would seek to replace him would have to be potent enough on the offensive end to justify dealing the 10-year veteran.
