It’s hard to call any part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offseason a disappointment, but one could argue that it may be a move or two short of perfection.

One of those moves would be re-signing fan favorite utility man Kiké Hernández, and the Dodgers’ front office has left the door open to a possible reunion.

However, not everyone sees his return to Los Angeles as a foregone conclusion.

In a recent column identifying potential destinations for 30 remaining available free agents in 2025, Chad Jennings of The Athletic (subscription required) projected that Hernández would land with… the Cleveland Guardians.

That’s definitely not what Dodgers fans want to hear.

“Defensively, center field is the Guardians’ most glaring need,” Jennings wrote. “In terms of experience, they’re thinnest at second base.

And their everyday lineup includes only one strictly right-handed hitter. Well, Hernández would address all of that.

He would be their best defensive option in center, their most experienced option at second, and another right-handed bat on a roster loaded with lefties and switch hitters.”

The Athletic has sad free agent prediction for fan favorite Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández

Jennings does make a strong argument for Hernández’s fit in Cleveland, and there are plenty of other clubs who would likely find his versatility attractive.

But Hernández himself has expressed his desire to return to Los Angeles and wear Dodger Blue in 2025.

Hernández’s Dodgers teammates have also expressed their desire to see him back in Los Angeles this year, with slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernández – who re-signed with the Dodgers in free agency earlier this offseason – saying last week at DodgerFest, “I want Kiké back, but at the end of the day, it’s business…

Hopefully, they can sign Kiké back.”

Hernández didn’t sign with the Dodgers until late February last year, so the fact that he’s still on the market doesn’t necessarily mean that a reunion is out of the question.

Still, a team like the Guardians could arguably get more use out of him; so Dodgers fans should brace themselves for the possibility of life without Kiké this year.