Teoscar Hernandez, one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, rejoined the Dodgers on a three-year, $66 million deal. The New York Mets were among the teams vying for the outfielder, with Tim Healey of Newsday reporting that the Mets had extended a two-year offer to Hernandez before he ultimately returned to Los Angeles.
According to Healey, the Mets made a push for Hernandez with a two-year contract offer this week, but he chose the Dodgers’ three-year deal. Healey noted that Hernandez would have been a valuable addition to the Mets’ lineup, potentially allowing Brandon Nimmo to shift back to center field, as the Mets look to bolster their roster around Juan Soto.
Teoscar Hernandez would have represented a significant upgrade in the outfield for the Mets compared to Tyrone Taylor, adding another powerful bat to their lineup alongside Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. The 32-year-old right-handed hitter was instrumental in the Dodgers’ championship run last season and could have brought that winning experience to New York.
Hernandez hit 33 home runs and posted a 134 wRC+ with Los Angeles last season. In the postseason, he delivered with three home runs and 12 RBIs, helping the Dodgers defeat the Mets in the NLCS before going on to win the World Series in five games against the Yankees.
With Hernandez now off the table, the Mets will need to adjust their plans. They are still in talks with free agent first baseman Pete Alonso regarding a potential return and are also reportedly in the mix for free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.
Even after signing Soto to a monster deal, they still have more moves to make if they want to be true title contenders next season. After missing out on Hernandez, where they go from here remains to be seen.
