Red Sox reportedly interested in Teoscar Hernández for a second straight offseason
Hernández, who hit 33 homers to earn an All-Star nod, helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2024.
The Red Sox might be set to renew their pursuit for a star outfielder that they attempted to sign in free agency last offseason.
Boston is interested in Teoscar Hernández, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported. Hernández became a free agent on Monday after his one-year deal with the Dodgers expired.
Hernández was one of the notable players who chief baseball officer Craig Breslow pursued in his first offseason in the Red Sox’ front office. Boston offered Hernández a multi-year deal last offseason, and the outfielder reciprocated the interest the Red Sox showed him. But the Sox wouldn’t meet Hernández’s complete ask, causing him to sign a one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Dodgers.
“At the end, it was Boston and the Dodgers,” Hernández told the “Flippin’ Bats” podcast 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.
“I was really excited because they were showing a lot of interest in me,” Hernandez added. “But at the end of the day, I was just trying to make the best decision that I can for my career and my family.”
Hernández’s one-year bet on himself will likely pay dividends. He had one of the best seasons of his career in Los Angeles, hitting 33 homers with a .840 OPS. His regular-season performance helped him earn his second All-Star nod while his three postseason home runs helped the Dodgers win the World Series.
The Red Sox could certainly use a bat like Hernández’s. The team’s lineup was lefty-dominant for much of the 2024 season, and their top right-handed hitter from last year, Tyler O’Neill, became a free agent on Monday. With O’Neill hitting free agency, there’s also a need for a primary left fielder, which Hernández was for the Dodgers last season.
If the Red Sox are serious about their pursuit of Hernández, who not only has shown interest in playing for them, but someone who also called Fenway Park their favorite ballpark in the majors.
“I love the way the fans are,” Hernández said. “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.”
Hernández, who previously played with the Blue Jays for six seasons, has hit well at Fenway Park over his career, too. He’s hit .282 with a .950 OPS and 14 homers in 44 games at Fenway.
Of course, signing Hernández won’t come cheap. The Athletic’s Tim Britton projects that Hernández will sign a three-year, $69 million deal while The Athletic’s Jim Bowden thinks he’ll wind up getting a three-year, $75 million deal.
Trivia: Hernandez hit 33 homers last season while O’Neill hit 31. Prior to O’Neill in 2024, who was the last Red Sox outfielder to hit at least 30 homers in a season?
(Hint: It occurred during a championship-winning season.)
Schedule and results
The Bruins got back in the win column on Thursday, getting a 4-3 win over the Flames in overtime. Brad Marchand scored the game-winning goal to improve the Bruins to 7-7-1 on the season. The Bruins host the Senators on Saturday night.
After losing to the Warriors on Wednesday, the Celtics host the Nets on Friday. Brooklyn is currently just one of four teams that has a .500 record or better in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics will also travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks for the second time this season on Sunday.
Boston College returns to action on Saturday after its bye week. It hosts 6-2 Syracuse at noon.
Finally, the Patriots head to Chicago to take on the Bears on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
Read more from Boston.com:
- Elias Lindholm’s two-way skill put on display in Bruins’ overtime win over Flames
- Brad Marchand scores OT goal to lead Bruins to 4-3 victory over Flames
- Tom Brady credited this for helping him find success early on with the Patriots
- Report: Trevor Lawrence is ‘unlikely’ to play Sunday and ex-Patriots QB Mac Jones is next in line
- Jrue Holiday supports Joe Mazzulla’s pro-fighting stance in basketball
- BC and Maine men’s hockey teams are set for a high-ranking showdown
- Brian Scalabrine addresses Kendrick Perkins’s comments about reported ring night ban
- Did the Warriors make a ‘statement’ with win over the Celtics? Buddy Hield thinks so.
- What experts are predicting for Sunday’s Patriots-Bears game
Daily highlight
Lamar Jackson showed off what he could do with his legs again in the Ravens’ 35-34 win over the Bengals on Thursday night. Facing a second-and-9 from Cincinnati’s 11-yard line, Baltimore star quarterback danced around in the pocket, running as far back as Cincinnati’s 30-yard line to evade the pressure. Once the Bengals’ pass rushers collapsed, Jackson took off. He ran along the sideline before getting tackled at the Bengals’ 1-yard line, helping the Ravens cut the lead to 21-14 in the third quarter.
On this day
Thirty-seven years ago, the Patriots helped make broadcasting history in the NFL: The Pats took on the Giants in a Sunday primetime game on ESPN, which marked the first time that an NFL game was ever aired on cable. New York, which was in the midst of one of its two losing seasons in the Bill Parcells era, was able to knock off New England that night 17-10. Steve Grogan’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Greg Baty was the Patriots’ only touchdown in the game.
(Trivia answer: Mookie Betts hit 32 homers in 2018.)
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com