The Dodgers may have a decision to make on Teoscar Hernandez, and the Blue Jays are already being mentioned as a possible landing spot if Los Angeles decides to move him.
Hernandez is in the final year of his deal, is 34, and his production has trended down over the last two seasons. His defense has also slipped, even though he remains a trusted piece for the Dodgers and still carries a strong postseason résumé. That combination could make him the kind of veteran the club is willing to move if it wants to get younger in that spot.
If Hernandez does become available, Toronto is a team to watch. Jim Bowden, the former Cincinatti Reds general manager, said he has regularly heard that the Blue Jays could work out a deal with the Dodgers for Hernandez.
“And the rumor that I keep hearing is that the Toronto Blue Jays have interest in reuniting with Teoscar Hernandez, who was a fan favorite when he was in Toronto,” Bowden said on his show, GM Territory.
Patt Ragazzo of FanSided has also reported that Toronto’s interest has been there since the club missed out on Kyle Tucker, a player it was badly after.
The fit makes sense on paper. Hernandez is a right-handed bat who can still put up around 20 home runs if he stays healthy, and he does plenty of damage when he squares the ball up.
Toronto also knows him well from his years with the organization, including his 2021 All-Star season. For a Blue Jays team looking for a right-handed power bat, Hernandez could also get some designated hitter time that helps keep him on the field.
The Blue Jays also have a reputation for being willing to spend.
Toronto isn’t the only club that could make sense, either. The Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinatti Reds, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals could all use a hitter with Hernandez’s profile. With the free-agent market looking thin, those teams may prefer a player with a $15 million salary instead of paying more for a similar bat elsewhere.
Kansas City was reportedly interested in Hernandez during the 2025 offseason, and the Royals could still use a veteran slugger. The Phillies need outfield help badly. The Reds and Red Sox fit the profile, even if there’s no reported link connecting them to Hernandez right now.
The Dodgers could still decide to keep him and give him another run in their title push. But if they want more speed, or if they want to clear a path for Josue De Paula, Hernandez may end up on the move.
In Other News...
Kenley Jansens Next Team Could Put Him On The Verge Of History
Kenley Jansens next move is suddenly one of the more interesting bullpen stories of the offseason. After the Tigers declined their $12 million option for the 2027 season and settled on the $2 million buyout, the veteran closer is back on the market after spending 2026 in Detroit, where he continued to add to a career that has already put him among the most accomplished relievers of his era.
Now sitting at 498 career saves, Jansen is within striking distance of a milestone few pitchers ever reach. The hunt for his next team is about more than just another late-inning role, since wherever he lands will likely be the place where he tries to push himself into the 500-save club and further cement his place in history. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers May Have A Real Bullpen Problem With Alex Vesia
The Dodgers are heading into an offseason with plenty of bullpen questions, and Alex Vesia sits near the center of them. With four relief pitchers set to hit free agency, Los Angeles has work to do in the late innings, and Vesia stands out as one of the more important names in that group because of what he has meant to the club from the left side.
ESPNs Kiley McDaniel sees the market treating Vesia like a real prize, projecting a two-year, $25 million deal in free agency based on his recent performance and pitching traits. For a Dodgers team that has leaned on bullpen depth and versatility, that kind of value makes his future worth watching closely, especially with so many moving parts already on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers May Have A Cheaper Pitching Answer They Can't Wait On
The Dodgers have another pitching option on the board in Hiromi Itoh, the Japanese right-hander who has been posted by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and is now available as an international free agent. Itoh brings NPB experience and a 2023 World Baseball Classic rsum, and he has already emerged as a name of interest for a club that is always weighing ways to add depth without overcommitting at the top of the market.
What makes the situation tricky is the timing. Itoh is seen as a possible long reliever or back-end starter, with projections pointing to a two-year deal worth $18 million, but the Dodgers cannot sit on the idea for long because the posting process and MLB lockout-related rules leave only a narrow window to get something done. For a team that values pitching depth as much as Los Angeles does, the appeal is obvious, even if the clock is working against them. [Read more 🡒]