After a standout 2024 season that saw Teoscar Hernández help the Los Angeles Dodgers capture the World Series, the veteran outfielder is drawing renewed interest from the Boston Red Sox, who reportedly tried to sign him in free agency last offseason. Hernández, who became a free agent this week following the expiration of his one-year contract with the Dodgers, is once again at the center of trade and signing rumors.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Red Sox are seriously considering adding Hernández to their roster. The Red Sox were linked to the 32-year-old last winter but ultimately lost out to the Dodgers. At the time, Hernández revealed during an interview on the Flippin’ Bats podcast that it came down to a decision between Boston and Los Angeles, with the Dodgers offering a more appealing one-year deal, which Hernández ultimately accepted.
“At the end, it was Boston and the Dodgers,” Hernández said in February. “We were trying to get more years in Boston. The only years that they offered was two. And everybody knows that because it became public. But like I said, the best opportunity and the best chance I had to get a good deal was the Dodgers, even with the one year.”
Hernández’s gamble on himself in 2024 certainly paid off. The slugger put up one of the best seasons of his career, belting 33 home runs with a .840 OPS while earning his second All-Star selection. His postseason contributions, including three home runs, were key to the Dodgers’ World Series title. With the Red Sox looking to bolster their outfield, especially after Tyler O’Neill hit free agency, Hernández could be the perfect fit.
The Red Sox are in need of a right-handed power bat, a role Hernández could fill after the team’s 2024 lineup skewed heavily left-handed. The team’s need for a starting left fielder also aligns with Hernández’s experience—he played left for the Dodgers last season, further strengthening his potential value to Boston.
What may make a move to Boston even more enticing for Hernández is his admiration for Fenway Park, a stadium he has called his favorite in Major League Baseball.
“I love the way the fans are,” Hernández shared in the podcast interview. “Even when people don’t think about the stadium, it’s because it’s really old. For me, it’s one of the best ones. I don’t know why it is. I don’t know what it is. But it just feels good to play in there.”
With the Red Sox clearly still in the hunt for Hernández, the next few weeks could be critical in determining whether the two sides can reach an agreement. For now, it seems the possibility of a future in Boston is one that Hernández is open to—and the Red Sox may very well be looking to seal the deal this time around.
