Teoscar declines qualifying offer, leaving Dodgers with decision
Outfielder Teoscar Hernández declined the qualifying offer extended to him by the Dodgers on Tuesday, making him a free agent.
Because Hernández declined the offer — which was worth $21.05 million this season — the Dodgers will receive a compensation pick in the 2025 MLB Draft if he signs with another team.
Of course, it remains possible Hernández could return to the Dodgers, who have a vacancy in left field. (Then again, they’ve also been linked with Juan Soto, the market’s top free agent, and are reportedly set to meet with the superstar slugger this week.)
“My hopes are really high,” Hernández said earlier this month. “Like I’ve said before, the Dodgers are the priority, obviously. I’m going to do everything in my power to come back.”
The 32-year-old Hernández set a career high with 33 home runs and played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ run to the World Series, recording key hits in all three rounds. Hernández batted .272 with an .840 OPS and was honored as an All-Star, a Silver-Slugger Award winner and named a second-team All-MLB outfielder. In July, he won the Home Run Derby.
Hernández was the only player extended a qualifying offer by the Dodgers. Right-hander Walker Buehler did not receive one. As with Hernández, there are plenty of reasons to believe Buehler could return as well.
Across MLB, 12 of the 13 players who received one ended up declining their qualifying offers. Only Cincinnati’s Nick Martinez accepted.
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The Dodgers on Tuesday added Jack Dreyer to the 40-man roster, which keeps him unavailable from being selected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft on December 11.
Many of the prospects who were ticketed to be added to the roster here — college draftees from 2021, high school draftees and international signees from 2020 and earlier — ended up getting the call to the majors during the season. Justin Wrobleski, River Ryan, Ben Casparius, and Edgardo Henriquez all found their way to the 40-man roster from July to September.
Dreyer started the 2024 season by allowing only one unearned run in 14⅔ innings for Double-A Tulsa before getting promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City in May. The left-hander was effective at the higher level as well with a 2.95 ERA in 37 appearances, including four saves, with 52 strikeouts against only nine walks in 42⅔ innings.
On the season, Dreyer struck out 72 and walked only 12, with a 26.4-percent strikeout-minus-walk rate that ranked second-best among all Dodgers minor league pitchers with at least 30 innings, behind only 30-year-old right-hander Michael Petersen who made his major league debut in June.
Dreyer this season was effective against all comers, including holding right-handed batters to just .171/.203/.301 with 46 strikeouts and five walks. Lefties hit .264/.316/.363 against him.
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