With Teoscar Hernández heading into the final year of his deal, the Dodgers are again a team to watch on the trade market. A thin crop of right-handed outfield bats has already put him on the radar, though general manager Brandon Gomes made it clear the club isn’t itching to shake up the roster.
“We feel really good about our team as is and certainly don’t feel compelled to do anything along those lines,” Gomes told reporters, including Jack Harris of the California Post.
Hernández is due $14.5MM this season, and Los Angeles also holds a $15MM club option for 2028 with a $6.5MM buyout. If that option never comes into play, the Dodgers would be looking at a $21MM outlay for one season of Hernández. At 34, he still turned in an above-average year at the plate in 2026, finishing with a 110 wRC+ and 16 homers in 491 plate appearances.
His season had a clear arc. Hernández was productive early, carrying a .785 OPS through the end of May before a hamstring injury knocked him out.
After a month on the injured list, he struggled badly from June through August, hitting .220/.273/.353. Then came a strong September, when he posted a .965 OPS, before the postseason brought more trouble.
The Dodgers may have some internal cover if they decide to move on. Top prospect Josue De Paula made a loud late-season impression, collecting 10 hits and 11 walks in 11 games to finish the regular season.
He reached base at a .500 clip in that stretch, a tiny sample but an eye-catching one. The bat looks ready enough to matter in the majors.
The glove is the bigger question. De Paula hasn’t shown he can handle big-league defense yet, and it’s too early to stamp him as a designated hitter only.
Still, a possible lockout would make that evaluation trickier. If there’s no contact with players on the 40-man roster during a lockout, the Dodgers would be forced to trust whatever defensive progress De Paula makes this winter without seeing it firsthand.
Elsewhere on the Dodgers’ offseason board, lefty Alex Vesia is drawing attention. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports Los Angeles is one of the teams that has checked in on him.
Vesia has spent most of his major league career with the Dodgers and has become a steady late-inning arm. In 2026, he logged a career-high 72 appearances, posted a 2.64 ERA, led the club with 20 holds and added three saves.
He’s getting plenty of interest and could be aiming for a three-year contract, according to Ardaya.
Evan Phillips is also in the mix to return. Ardaya notes the right-hander is a candidate to re-up with the club after coming back from Tommy John surgery and looking much like himself again.
He struck out 31.1% of the hitters he faced over 26 innings. Phillips saved 42 games for the Dodgers from 2023 through 2024, and while injuries have interrupted his time in Los Angeles, he’s been effective whenever he’s been on the mound.
The Dodgers non-tendered him last offseason before bringing him back on a one-year, $6.5MM contract.
The club is also shopping for a right-handed-hitting middle infielder, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Miguel Rojas retired at the end of the season, leaving a hole in that role.
Los Angeles isn’t chasing a long-term answer at second base or shortstop; instead, it wants a depth piece who can step in at times for Mookie Betts and Alex Freeland. Adding that kind of player would let Tommy Edman stay in a more flexible role.
Ardaya linked Mauricio Dubón, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Kiké Hernández to the Dodgers in that search.
In Other News...
Dodgers Linked To A Power Bat That Could Test Their Spending
Teruaki Sato is officially on the market, and the 27-year-old Japanese infielders posting has already drawn a familiar list of heavy hitters. The Dodgers are among the clubs said to have interest, alongside the Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Padres, which is a pretty good sign the bidding could get competitive fast for a player with real power and a reputation that has traveled well across the Pacific.
The timing matters as much as the talent. Sato has until Dec. 1 to reach a deal before a league lockout shuts down negotiations, and he is expected to command a high-value contract. For the Dodgers, who are never shy about chasing impact talent, this is the kind of market that can quickly turn into a test of how far they want to push their spending for a bat that could change the shape of their offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Search For Miguel Rojas Replacement Is Starting To Take Shape
The Dodgers are still sorting through how to replace Miguel Rojas at the middle infield spot, and the early shape of that search suggests they want more than just a stopgap. Free agent utility options Mauricio Dubon and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have emerged as names to watch, with Dubon coming off a strong season with the Atlanta Braves and bringing the kind of versatility and defense that fits what Los Angeles tends to value.
The bigger picture is just as important as the replacement itself. The Dodgers want younger players who can hold up over the grind of the regular season, while also giving Tommy Edman a chance to slide into a super utility role. Kiner-Falefa looks like the kind of bench stabilizer who could help in that mix, but the front office still has to decide which profile best fits the roster it is trying to build. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Are Chasing A Japanese Phenom Before His Path Gets Messy
The Dodgers have been doing their homework overseas again, holding a meeting in Japan with pitching prospect Shoki Oda as they continue to evaluate international talent. Oda, who was taken first overall by the Yomiuri Giants in the NPB draft, is already drawing attention well beyond Japan because of the unusual path he may choose next.
Oda is reportedly weighing whether to bypass NPB entirely and sign directly with an MLB club, and he is said to be meeting with multiple teams. If he does not land with a major league organization, he has indicated he could head to college in the United States, which leaves his next step very much in play and gives clubs like the Dodgers a real chance to get involved before the route gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]