COMING SOON: Dodgers, Free Agent Now ‘Close’ on New Contract as Yankees, Red Sox Lurk

The Los Angeles Dodgers are close on the terms of a new contract with their apparent Plan B to free agent Juan Soto, according to a new report, but are waiting to hear on their Plan A – along with four other teams.

 

According to Noah Camras and Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation, “Teoscar Hernández has made it clear all along his desire is to re-sign with the Dodgers. As of Sunday, the two sides are close, but the Dodgers are not yet ready to finalize it. There’s no current timetable for a deal to be consummated.”

Dodgers, Outfielder Now 'Close' on New Contract as Yankees, Red Sox Lurk -  Newsweek

The teams who don’t sign Soto – his other reported finalists include the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays – are ostensibly still going to need a corner outfielder who can hit for power.

If not Soto, Hernández is a logical fallback option on the free agent market.

According to Dodgers Nation, the Yankees and Red Sox are confirmed to have interest in Soto. On Wednesday, one report circulated that Hernández and the Dodgers were “trying to nail the final details of a contract.”

However, that report proved premature.

All But One Finalist Willing to Offer Juan Soto $700 Million: Report It appears the market for Hernández, outfielder Anthony Santander, and others affected by Soto’s decision won’t accelerate until Soto formally notifies runner-up teams that they have been eliminated from his consideration.

Hernández, 32, hit 33 home runs, drove in 99, and batted .272 after signing a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Dodgers in January.

In addition to making the National League All-Star team and winning a Silver Slugger Award, Hernández became the first Dodger player to win the Home Run Derby in July.

Red Sox Free Agent Poised to Sign with AL East Rival: Reports The Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series in October and are looking to maintain their momentum into 2025.

If they cannot swipe Soto, a linchpin of the Yankees’ success last season, they can do much worse than re-signing a player who established himself as a favorite in the clubhouse and among the team’s fan base.

Soto, 26, hit 41 homers, scored an American League-leading 128 runs, drove in 109, and reached base at a .419 clip batting ahead of MVP Aaron Judge with the New York Yankees in 2024.

Related Posts

Confirm: Dodgers GM Reveals Latest Update on Clayton Kershaw

Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes provided the latest update surrounding veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw. Earlier this winter, Kershaw declined his $10 million player option with…

SURPRISING: When Aaron Judge went undercover as umpire to shock Yankees fans

There are few professional athletes who have captured their fanbases like New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has. He is the captain of one of the most…

UNBELIEVABLE!! Dodgers Criticized For Odd, ‘Petty’ Handling Of $70 Million Star Free Agent

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández is coming off one of the best years of his big league career. The star outfielder is a free agent this…

SHOCKING TRADE: Dodgers Could Land $50 Million Star In Huge Trade To Replace Teoscar Hernández

The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly been trying to bring outfielder Teoscar Hernández back to Los Angeles this offseason. Hernández had a very successful 2024 season with…

BREAKING: Gleyber Torres Not Expected to Return to Yankees

Indications are that free agent second baseman Gleyber Torres likely isn’t returning to the New York Yankees. Oct 29, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees…

Yankees Meet With Japan Phenom Roki Sasaki But May Lose Out to ‘Innovative’ Mets

Roki Sasaki Since losing generational offensive force Juan Soto to the New York Mets and the historic, 15-year, $765 million contract the offered him, the New York Yankees have…