One-year, $21.05 million offer that, if declined would net LA a compensatory draft pick after the fourth round should Hernández sign elsewhere.
The Dodgers on Monday extended a qualifying offer to free agent Teoscar Hernández, a procedural move that would net a compensatory draft pick should he sign with another team.
In all, 13 major league players received qualifying offers — Associated Press has the full list — though pitcher Walker Buehler was not one of them.
The qualifying offer is a one-year, $21.05 million contract that the players have until 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday, November 19 to accept or decline. The Dodgers, as a competitive balance tax payer, would receive a draft pick directly after the fourth round if Hernández declines the qualifying offer then signs elsewhere.
Most recent examples of this came after the 2022 season, when Tyler Anderson and Trea Turner both signed with new teams, and the Dodgers used those new draft picks to select outfielder Dylan Campbell and pitcher Eriq Swan, respectively, with the 176th and 177th overall picks of the 2023 draft.
The top third of the Dodgers’ lineup had three MVPs, but Hernández helped make the big three really a big four. Hernández was one of the most durable players on the team, second in games played (154), plate appearances (652), home runs (33), RBI (99), runs scored (84), and total bases (295).
Hernández hit .272/.339/.501 with a 134 wRC+, and led all National League outfielders in home runs and RBI. He led the Dodgers with hits and home runs with runners in scoring position, hitting .288/.396/.547 with a 160 wRC+ in those situations.
He made his second All-Star team, became the first Dodger to win the Home Run Derby, and hit .350/.381/.550 during his first World Series.
Hernández is in a strong position to get the longer deal that wasn’t there for him last winter. His agent Rafa Nieves said in October that last winter they were seeking a three-year contract but pivoted to a one-year deal with a winning team.
9 months ago every agent criticized me and Teo for taking a 1-year deal.
The truth is, the market was soft for everyone, and he was coming off a down year while playing in a very pitcher friendly environment.
We were looking for a 3-year deal, and while reading the market and… pic.twitter.com/f0ewopyIqB
— Rafa Nieves (@mlb_agent) October 13, 2024
Hernández signed a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers. On Monday, he was named one of the top five National League outfielders in Silver Slugger voting. If Hernández is one of the three outfielder Silver Slugger recipients on November 12, he’ll earn a $1 million bonus.
He can also a bonus depending on where he finishes in NL MVP voting. He’d get $2 million for getting anywhere between sixth and 10th place, and he’d earn $500,000 if he finishes anywhere from 11th to 15th.
Hernández has made no secret of his desire to return to the Dodgers, telling reporters at Friday’s championship celebration at Dodger Stadium, “The Dodgers are the priority obviously. I’m going to do everything in my power to come back.”