The New York Yankees, like other big-market MLB teams, appear to be in a holding pattern as they pursue superstar slugger Juan Soto. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, many major offseason moves across the league hinge on Soto’s contract resolution. Once those negotiations are finalized, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicts another significant signing: the Yankees securing Teoscar Hernández with a five-year, $100 million deal.
Reuter compared Hernández’s potential contract to the five-year, $100 million agreement Nick Castellanos signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. “While a reunion with the Los Angeles Dodgers remains a possibility, Hernández’s market could expand after the Juan Soto sweepstakes concludes,” Reuter explained.
Snagging Teoscar Hernández from the Dodgers could be a significant win for the Yankees. In 2024, Hernández delivered an impressive .272/.339/.501 slash line with Los Angeles, earning his third Silver Slugger Award, a second All-Star appearance, MVP votes for the third time in his career, and a World Series championship. That standout performance on a one-year deal has elevated his free-agent value, though the Dodgers might let him walk, relying on stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani to anchor their lineup.
“After a solid but unspectacular 2023 season with the Mariners, Hernández accepted a one-year, $23.5 million deal from the Dodgers,” Reuter explained. “He bounced back with a career-high 33 home runs and played a key role in their World Series victory, cementing himself as one of the top hitters available this offseason.”
A move to the Yankees, however, could depend on the outcome of the Juan Soto sweepstakes. If the Yankees miss out on Soto, they may pivot to Hernández as a much-needed outfield upgrade. Meanwhile, Reuter predicted the Red Sox would outbid everyone for Soto, offering a staggering $675 million deal.
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