The Winter Meetings have concluded with the Royals yet to address their glaring outfield needs. The free agent market became thinner when former Royals outfielder Mike Yastrzemski signed a two-year deal with the Braves this week. With Harrison Bader looking for a three-year deal, the free agent market isn’t looking like a promising avenue to add a starting outfielder.
The Royals could instead look to the trade market, where they are reportedly open to dealing their pitching surplus. Rumors have swirled around Boston’s Jarren Duran and St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan, but a report from Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic report the Royals could look to the defending champs if they part with outfielder Tesocar Hernández.
The Dodgers continue to “kick the tires” on trading Teoscar Hernández, a league source said, though general manager Brandon Gomes said Monday that trading the right fielder “doesn’t feel likely.” Still, the Dodgers might feel inclined to deal Hernández, whose defense declined last year, to free up roster space. The Kansas City Royals have coveted an offense-first outfielder, and have interest in Hernández, a league source said.
It is not entirely clear why the Dodgers would deal Hernández, considering they are also looking to add to their outfield as well and have been linked to top free agent Kyle Tucker. Hernández is owed $26.5 million over the next two seasons, although $16 million of it is deferred until 2031. He also has a $15 million club option in 2028 with a $6.5 million buyout and a $15 million conditional option in 2029 based on his health. Perhaps the Dodgers are looking to get out from under the contract to free up money for other moves as they retool to defend their title.
Hernández turned 33 in October and smacked 25 home runs last season, the fifth consecutive season he has reached that mark. But he also posted a career-worst on-base percentage of .284 with a walk rate of 4.8 percent, eighth-lowest in baseball. Overall, he hit .247/.284/.454, but his 1.5 rWAR was his lowest since 2019. He hit just .221/.265/.403 after the start of June.
Defensively, Hernández is pretty awful. His -9 Outs Above Average was tied for sixth-worst among all outfielders. He fared better under Defensive Runs Saved at +1, but he has been trending in the wrong direction and is getting deeper into his 30s. He played right field last year, but has a lot of experience in left field as well.
Still, his power is the kind that the Royals covet. He did hit 16 of his 25 home runs at Dodgers Stadium, which has become a bit of a home run park, but he would have had 21 expected home runs had he played all of his games at Kauffman Stadium. He missed time this year with a groin injury and had some foot issues, and he is skipping the World Baseball Classic next spring to give his body more time to recover. His numbers slumped after his early groin injury as he began to chase more. He has been pretty durable in his career, appearing in 130 games or more in six of his last seven non-shortened seasons. He is regarded as a good clubhouse, a guy who values winning, and has won two championship rings.
The Dodgers insist they are not looking to move Hernández, although GM Brandon Gomes did not close the door completely, saying, “Obviously, you can never say never on those types of things, but Teo, I know that’s come up. That’s not something we anticipate at all.”
Hernández is not as young as you would hope for a player the Royals would target, but he does have an established track record of production, and his contract seems favorable enough the Royals could absorb it without much trouble. His defensive struggles should give the Royals pause, as spacious Kauffman Stadium requires an outfielder who can cover some ground.
A trade for Hernández also shouldn’t require the Royals to give up much other than a willingness to take on his contract. He has negative value, according to Baseball Trade Values, so the Royals shouldn’t give up much more than a couple of “lottery ticket” prospects far from the big leagues, if that.
The Royals still have plenty of options, but as the offseason rolls on, those options will dwindle. Hernández is an interesting bat that has been consistent and would be a big upgrade in the lineup, but his production over the next two years is not guaranteed.
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