[ad_1]
Dodgers close to re-signing utility player Enrique Hernandezby Fabián Ardaya and Ken Rosenthal of The Athleticalthough it seems to depend on the reported commercial shipment manuel margot until the Twins are complete. It will be a one-year contract for Hernández, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. It seems that the deal is closed, according to Hernández himself in X.
When news began to leak about Margot’s trade to Minnesota, speculation turned to Hernandez almost immediately. It was reported over the weekend that the Giants, Angels, Twins and Padres were interested in him, but he will instead return to the club he played for for most of his career.
Hernandez, now 32, spent from 2015 to 2020 with the Dodgers, largely deployed as a utility guy at multiple positions. He hit .240/.312/.425 over those six years, production that led to a wRC+ of 98. Although that offense was slightly below average, it still helped the club by being able to rank everywhere. He played all four infield positions and three outfield positions during that time, and even made an appearance on the mound.
As of 2021, he hit free agency and signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Red Sox. He was excellent in the first year of that pact, hitting 20 home runs and hitting .250/.337/.449 for a wRC+ of 109. He spent most of his time in center field, earning good grades there, while also lining up in the central points of the painting.
In 2022, his offense took a step back. He went on the disabled list with a right hip flexor strain and missed more than two months. However, the Sox still had faith in a recovery. In September of that year, he was given a $10MM salary to stay through 2023. He finished 2022 with a line of .222/.291/.338 for a wRC+ of 74.
With Trevor’s Story About to miss significant time in 2023 recovering from elbow surgery, the Sox attempted to make Hernandez their everyday shortstop, although the experiment didn’t work. The defensive metrics didn’t like his work there, as he had a -6 Defensive Runs Saved rating and -12 Outs Above Average. He also hit just .222/.279/.320 before being returned to the Dodgers at the deadline. Returning to his old stomping grounds seemed to suit him well, as he hit .262/.308/.423 as he bounced all over the diamond for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers may have never been fully committed to Margot, as they signed him as part of the Tyler Glasnow trade. The Rays were looking to move some payroll in the Glasnow deal, but they also saved some more by including Margot, who is owed $12 million this year in the form of a $10 million salary and then a $2 million buyout in an option of the club by 2025.
The Dodgers will have a regular outfield of James Outman, Teoscar Hernandez and Jason Hayward this year. Margot and her right-handed bat could have platooned with Heyward, who had a bounce-back year in 2023 while largely protected from lefties, but the Dodgers have other options for that role as well. right handed Chris Taylor He is also in the squad and now Hernandez will join him, giving the club two guys who could join Heyward while also adding some depth to the squad.
The Dodgers are going to have a mix of players in the middle infield. Gavin Lux at shortstop and Mookie Betting on second base. The former missed all of 2023 after tearing his ACL and damaging the ACL in his right knee, while Betts recently moved to the infield after spending most of his career in right field. Miguel Rojas He’s on the roster as a first-glove depth option and Taylor is also in the mix, but Hernandez can help while also taking over Margot’s role as the fourth outfielder.
The Dodgers are above the fourth and final line of the competitive balance tax and pay for the third time. That means any money added to payroll now comes with a 110% tax rate. However, they may end up saving money today depending on the final details of this deal and the Margot trade. List resource It currently pegs its CBT figure at $304 million, and this year’s fourth tier at $297 million. The calculations will no doubt be modified once the details of today’s transactions are revealed.