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PHOENIX – New Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Kiké Hernández expressed his displeasure with the state of the free agent market, publicly criticizing the process twice on Thursday, including in the YouTube program, “Dirty Territory.”
Hernandez, who re-signed with Los Angeles on Monday for one year and $4 million, told the show, “I’m not going to say the C word, but I think the C word needs a capital C,” a not-so-veiled accusation that owners of the major leagues are colluding to suppress player markets.
“The call times (with the teams) were very similar,” Hernández said on the program. “The numbers were practically the same throughout.
“I think the teams that use these computer systems to project numbers and salaries, they all use the same one and I think they all have the same password. “That’s how free agency goes, and it’s not just me.”
Collusion between owners is prohibited and is also difficult to prove. A Major League Baseball spokesman declined to comment.
Hernandez continued to express his frustration Thursday afternoon when speaking to reporters at spring training, saying the lengthy process that led to him signing three weeks into camp was similar to the experience of several other free agents. established.
“I mean, it’s been terrible,” Hernandez said. “There are still a lot of very good quality baseball players, major league players who are more than capable of being everyday players on a lot of teams, and the fact that they’re still there is a shame. It seems like a lot of the owners had an excuse in terms of the TV deal and things like that. It was a very strange offseason and still is for some guys. “It doesn’t seem like things are getting better for some of those guys either, which is embarrassing.”
The Dodgers, whose collective spending this winter has surpassed $1.2 billion, have pounced on a slow market. At least one other free agent signing, Teoscar Hernández, pointed to the slow market as motivation for accepting a one-year deal with Los Angeles, despite his hopes of landing a multi-year deal.
MLB Players Association CEO Tony Clark echoed concerns similar to those of The Athletic This week, he called “interesting” the state of the free agent market, which still has notable unsigned players such as two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, left-hander Jordan Montgomery, third baseman Matt Chapman and former Dodger JD Martínez.
“I find it hard to believe that major league players who can help teams win games are not signed,” Clark said.
In some markets it is uncertain how much some teams will earn from their television and media rights in the coming years, but Hernández and Clark seemed to believe that teams are taking too much advantage of that concern to avoid spending on players.
Hernandez, a 10-year veteran, had a more fruitful free agency following the 2020 season, signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the Boston Red Sox and emerging as a productive contributor to their ALCS career. the American League that October before signing. a one-year extension the following fall. His 2022 season was his worst full year as a major leaguer (.629 OPS), and he followed it up with a .646 OPS between Boston and Los Angeles in 2023, a meeting that received rave reviews from officials. of the Dodgers.
Hernandez and the Dodgers expressed mutual interest all winter, but it took so long in part because of a logjam on the roster opened by the Manuel Margot trade on Monday. Hernandez, who told “Foul Territory” that his decision was up to the Dodgers (who had a higher offer, he said) and the New York Yankees, spoke again with the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations. , Andrew Friedman. He only received an offer a few weeks ago, giving the Dodgers a chance to get in.
“I was waiting for the Dodgers, but I was also waiting for other teams to make an offer and get serious, and the teams’ momentum got serious at the same time the Dodgers made a move,” Hernandez said.
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(Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images)