Are the Los Angeles Dodgers willing to double down on keeping their own talent or look to snag fresh stars from the open market? Well, if the early moves are any indication, the Dodgers have decided they want it all—they’re retaining the key players while adding new talent to stay at the game’s top. The latest move? Landing Blake Snell, who is currently one of the top starting pitchers available.

But now, the focus is shifting back to a crucial decision on the position player front. So, who’s on the hot seat? Teoscar Hernandez. The Dodgers are aiming to keep one of their most important contributors in-house. According to reports from around the league, there’s strong confidence that Teoscar Hernández will re-sign with LA, as one insider put it. So, it looks like the Dodgers are on track to bring back one of their key players for the upcoming season.

David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports said, “My understanding, talking to people around the league, they expect Teoscar Hernández to re-sign with the Dodgers. Many people around the league expect Teoscar Hernández and the Dodgers to find their way back to each other, and my understanding is the Dodgers and Teoscar are very much engaged and trying to nail the final details of a contract.” While no deal is official just yet, the possibility of Teoscar Hernández rejoining the Dodgers is already a big win for the team. 

The outfield currently includes Tommy Edman, Andy Pages, and James Outman, and let’s not forget, #37 was a beast in his first season with the Dodgers. Teoscar slashed .272/.339/.501 with a career-high 33 home runs; his production helped solidify LA’s lineup. So, Hernandez thriving in such a stacked lineup could very well lead to another stellar season. If this deal goes through, it can make a Dodgers offense even more terrifying next year. While the Dodgers deal isn’t done yet, one more team has been eyeing Teoscar Hernandez.

The Red Sox view Teoscar Hernandez as a backup plan  

The Boston Red Sox are making some serious moves this offseason, and they’re not shy about it. They’re one of five teams that have reportedly made an offer to Juan Soto. If they miss out on the star slugger, the team will have to turn their heads somewhere else—enter Teoscar Hernandez, who’s quickly become a name to watch in the Red Sox’s backup plans. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman predicted that if Soto goes elsewhere, the Red Sox could turn to Hernández as a solution for their lineup. 

After a solid 2024 season with the Dodgers, Teoscar would be an upgrade for Boston—a team that already features Rafael Devers, Triston Casas, and Masataka Yoshida at the heart of their order. “If Soto chooses to land elsewhere, the top priority on Craig Breslow’s list when it comes to position players should be Teoscar Hernández,” Zachary Rotman said about the Red Sox’s potential next move. As Rotman pointed out, the 32-year-old has a .950 OPS and 14 home runs in just 45 games at Fenway, which means he’s more than comfortable hitting in that hitter-friendly park. 

“It’d be really fun watching him hit there 81+ times every season,” Rotman added. Hernández’s familiarity with Fenway goes back to his time with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he faced the Red Sox plenty of times. After a standout year with the Dodgers on a one-year deal—where he not only earned his second career All-Star selection but also helped bring home a World Series title and even won the Home Run Derby.

So, Teoscar Hernandez has definitely set himself up for a big payday, either with the Dodgers or the Red Sox. Where do you think he’ll land this offseason? Share your predictions below.