The LA Dodgers won the 2024 World Series trophy, and they’re not stopping at that. They want more, and after adding Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani to their roster last year, the team has been unstoppable. Ohtani clinched his first WS win in his first year of joining the Dodgers, which is huge. The squad is making headlines this offseason too, given their major signings that include Blake Snell for $182 million and Tommy Edman for $74 million. However, the job is far from done.

The team is now adamant about getting back their key player, Teoscar Hernandez, who showed signs of brilliance in the 2024 season. Apart from getting crucial players onto the team, their main goal is to win (again). In his latest conversation on ‘The Dodgers Bleed Los Podcast’, team manager Dave Roberts came out with a statement that really aligned with what his team had been saying.

“LA is a city of champions, and that is something I appreciate. We want rings. Mookie Betts said it; Shohei Ohtani said it—they want to accumulate rings and build their legacy. That’s what we want to do. We want to run it back,” Roberts noted, referring to the moment when Mookie Betts said he wanted to chase Derek Jeter’s legacy. In an interview session, Betts had claimed that he wants to fill his hand with nothing but rings.

Mookie Betts said, “At least do that. I told Jeter I’m going to catch him. I have some work to do if I want to get there. But I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else but the Dodgers.” The old-timer has five rings, and Mookie just grabbed his third with the 2024 win. So, now, it looks like Betts is going to catch up to Derek Jeter in no time, and with the manager Dave Roberts’ statement backing it, the team is all prepared to win again. But what will be the crew’s next move in order to fulfill this target?

Mookie Betts’ team plans on bringing back a key player

Acquiring Teoscar Hernández is the Dodgers’ plan right now. Hernandez was a huge part of the team’s win in 2024, and that is why they are keen on bringing him back. Along with Shohei, this win was also a first for the 32-year-old. Instead of locking in a long-term deal last winter, Teoscar took a calculated risk when he agreed to a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers. And what a payoff it turned out to be!

With a .840 OPS, 33 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 84 runs scored in 652 plate appearances, Hernández was a constant threat at the plate. And of course, he earned his third career Silver Slugger Award. After that stellar year with the Dodgers, fans expected the team to seal the deal with Hernández right away, but that didn’t happen. Till now, no deal has been finalized, and Dodgers fans are worried that this time gap will allow other teams to snatch the outfielder.

Despite the growing buzz around potential suitors, FOX Sports’ Rowan Kavner predicted that Hernández will ultimately stay in LA. Kavner points out how critical Hernández was to the Dodgers’ success. He said, “But Hernández played a major role in the Dodgers’ success last season and was a perfect fit both on the field.” Spotrac is estimating a three-year, $71 million deal for the veteran, but with other teams now expressing interest, his price tag could start to climb.

What’s your prediction on the Dodgers going for Hernández? Share below.