Picture this: In the thrilling yet unpredictable realm of Major League Baseball trades, whispers are swirling around the Los Angeles Dodgers and their star outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Could the two-time World Series champions really part ways with a player who's been instrumental in their recent glory? But here's where it gets interesting—their general manager isn't buying into the hype just yet.
At the bustling Winter Meetings in Orlando, the Dodgers have been quietly exploring potential trade offers for Hernández, as detailed in a recent report from The Athletic. Yet, despite the buzz, the chances of actually shipping him out remain slim, at least according to the team's decision-makers.
Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes, chatting with reporters at the Signia by Hilton, expressed that it 'doesn’t feel likely' the reigning champs would swap Hernández, who's now in the second season of his lucrative three-year, $66 million contract signed just over a year ago. 'Obviously you can never say never on those types of things, but Teo, I know that’s come up,' Gomes remarked. 'That’s not something we anticipate at all.'
Now, for beginners in baseball, let's break this down a bit: Gómez is signaling that while trades are always a possibility in a sport where rosters evolve like living organisms, the Dodgers aren't actively planning to move Hernández. It's more about opportunistic curiosity—keeping an eye on what might come their way—rather than a firm intention.
And this is the part most people miss: Even considering a trade revolves around the rare opportunity to upgrade. As MLB insider Mike Petriello pointed out in a piece on MLB.com, there simply aren't many high-quality right-handed hitting outfielders available in free agency or trades. For those unfamiliar, right-handed hitters can provide balance against left-handed pitchers, which is a strategic edge in lineup construction.
Hernández, at 33, is riding off a tougher offensive year in 2025 with a 103 OPS+—a metric that compares a player's on-base plus slugging percentage to the league average, where 100 is baseline. His mark was a personal low, indicating subpar production relative to peers. Defensively, the Dodgers might prefer him elsewhere, as he logged time in right field last season, where his skills didn't align perfectly with team needs.
But that doesn't mean the Dodgers are itching to trade him or even shift him internally. Manager Dave Roberts, speaking on Monday, emphasized Hernández's fit: 'Teo certainly fits. He has helped us win two championships. He’s one of my favorites. Could he move to left? Potentially. I do think that with the versatility potential and how we potentially shape this roster, there’s some options. But right now, he’s our right fielder.'
The case for retaining him boils down to his reliability at the plate. Throughout the Dodgers' back-to-back title runs, Hernández was their steadiest contributor, boasting a robust .780 OPS, eight home runs, and extending the lineup's power beyond the superstar core of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. For baseball newcomers, think of him as the reliable cleanup hitter who keeps the rally going when the big names get on base.
Adding to the complexity, the Dodgers are actively scouting new outfield talent, and swapping Hernández would amplify that need. Veteran infielder Tommy Edman could potentially slide into center field, but he's recovering from an ankle procedure that might sideline him during spring training, per Gomes.
There's also a tempting pull toward rejuvenating the roster—the Dodgers' position players were the oldest in the majors last year—and bolstering defense, perhaps by positioning speedy prospect Andy Pages in an outfield corner. Yet, ironically, the very traits that make Hernández attractive to other teams are the reasons the Dodgers might hold onto him: scarce, powerful bats like his don't grow on trees.
But here's where it gets controversial: The trade chatter stems from Hernández's defensive shortcomings. According to Baseball Savant, he posted a -9 Outs Above Average rating in 2025, ranking just 33rd out of 36 outfielders—a stat that shows how many extra outs he might have made compared to an average player. His range is limited, and he's had trouble with balls hit near the foul lines, turning potential singles into doubles or worse. As an example, even before a notable August blunder, his defense raised eyebrows.
Remember that infamous shallow fly ball in a walk-off loss to the Colorado Rockies back in Denver? That moment highlighted the risks. Roberts noted, 'I will say from my eye test, (that) game in Colorado, the last time we were in Denver, from that point on, his right field defense was at least average.' Still, the post-miscue stretch included hiccups, like being benched in early September for lacking 'edge,' and costly errors in October's playoffs—soft line drives that cost runs in the Wild Card Series against Cincinnati and the World Series against Toronto. Yet, the Dodgers prevailed in those series partly because Hernández stayed in the lineup.
This exemplifies the Dodgers' dilemma: weighing his defensive liabilities against his offensive value in a team that values both. Is keeping a hitter who drives the ball hard worth the risk of fielding mishaps? Some fans might argue it's a no-brainer to trade for younger, more agile defenders, while others might counter that his championship pedigree and scarcity in the market make him indispensable. What do you think—should the Dodgers hold onto Hernández for his bat, or prioritize defense with a trade? Share your thoughts in the comments; do you agree with the GM's stance, or is there a controversial counterpoint I'm missing?
