It’s hard for the Los Angeles Dodgers to complain about much in light of their second-straight World Series win, but not everything went perfectly this season.
Teoscar Hernández’s regression on both sides of the ball in the first season of a three-year, $66 million contract was somewhat concerning. Hernández was still there to provide some crucial home runs in the playoffs, but his 100-point dip in OPS and brutal defense in right field seem to have given the Dodgers some pause.
Last week, The Athletic reported that the Dodgers had discussed Hernández’s name in trade conversations with other teams, though nothing was suggesting at the time that a deal was close. And it made sense that the Dodgers would at least listen, because Hernández’s right-handed power could be so appealing to opposing teams that they’d be willing to pay a premium.
However, on Monday, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes did his very best to downplay the possibility that Hernández would be traded while speaking to reporters at the winter meetings.
Gomes asserted that a trade of Hernández “doesn’t feel likely,” per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
“Obviously you can never say never on those types of things, but Teo, I know that’s come up,” Gomes said, per Ardaya. “That’s not something we anticipate at all.”
The Dodgers have every right to extract a high price for Hernández, and frankly, they shouldn’t be pushy about trying to get it. There’s no need to shop him, because they have a spot for him in the lineup, whether he sticks in right field or moves back to left, where he played last year.
So Gomes, while he didn’t shut down the possibility of a trade altogether, summed up fairly clearly why a trade is unlikely: The Dodgers likely aren’t expecting some mystery team to put together a package worthy of consideration.
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