As SportsNet LA’s studio host John Hartung began rattling off the offseason moves the Los Angeles Dodgers completed, the crowd before him on Saturday at DodgerFest broke out into a familiar chant.
“Kiké! Kiké!”
General manager Brandon Gomes reflected on the moment as he fielded questions from reporters.
“Obviously we’d never close the door to Kiké, he said. “I think a lot of it is just making sure he and his family feel like it’s the best position for him. But we’ll have those conversations.”
Gomes echoed the same remarks as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman which should be a pleasant piece of news for Dodgers fans.
“The door will never be closed on Kiké,” Friedman said.
Hernández has not shied away from expressing his desires to remain in Los Angeles. He opened up about them while appearing at Raising Canes for a partnership event days after the Dodgers won the World Series.
“I would love to be back,” Hernández said. “I truly believe that — we won the World Series a couple days ago, but I truly believe that this team is gonna be even better next year with all the pitching reinforcements.”
In an appearance on The Shop, the super utility player spoke about his preferred destination.
“From the moment I got to L.A., it was a humbling experience for me to have a fanbase that embraces me and loves me the way that they do,” he said. “The support. I’m a guy that I’m probably a better player than what the back of my card says numbers-wise. I bring more to the table than my stats, and the way that they love me, you’d think that I am the best player on the field each and every day I step on a baseball field.”
Hernández has had multiple stints with the Dodgers and a free agent contract in Boston mixed in between.
The New York Yankees have reportedly shown interest in signing Hernández, but the remarks from the Los Angeles front office makes that seem unlikely.
In order to potentially create room on the 40-man roster for the October hero, the Dodgers will have to transfer some players to the 60-day injured list.
