DEAL EFECTUADO: Dodgers has announced oficialmente la firma de $105m sensational ace para reemplazar a Teoscar Hernandez, quien anteriormente dijo adiós a Dodgers, pero…

4 Teoscar Hernandez replacements for Dodgers if he doesn’t return

Who will man left field for the Dodgers next season?

The Los Angeles Dodgers spent over $1 billion last offseason. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto stole the headlines, but a smaller move also made a massive difference. After a rough season in Seattle, Teoscar Hernandez joined the team on on one-year deal. He was spectacular and will likely land a long-term deal this off-season. If he does not return to the Dodgers in free agency, Juan Soto and Anthony Santander are among the best options.

Hernandez is a unique player to try and replace. He is not a fantastic defender, posing a -9 outs above average last season, per Baseball Savant. The Dodgers are known as a stellar defensive team and they have been quick to remind everyone of that in the World Series aftermath. That did not matter for Hernandez, who posted a 137 OPS+ and 33 home runs.

The Dodgers have a lot of money tied up in superstar players. That may prevent them from re-signing Hernandez or swinging big on a free agent. There are secondary options as well that are more financially sustainable and lower the tax bill. With that said, let’s look at the four best Teoscar Hernandez replacements in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers swing big with Juan Soto

The biggest fish of the free agency period is Juan Soto. While the Dodgers have not been explicitly connected to Soto, it’s impossible to rule them out before he signs somewhere. The deal will likely break Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer’s shared average annual value record of $43.33 million. While LA is already full of stars, there could be room for one more in the outfield.

Soto struggles defensively, as proven by his misplay in Dodgers Stadium in Game 1 of the World Series. That is something his new team will want to fix but the Dodgers are used to it from Hernandez. He will provide one of the best bats in the world to their lineup and make them a nearly unbeatable powerhouse.

This is the least likely outcome for the Dodgers, who would likely want Hernandez back at a much lower price. The Soto sweepstakes are heating up and hearing the Dodgers get thrown around would surprise no one. While they have one of the highest payrolls in baseball, it is not out of the picture that they add another megastar.

Switch-hitting Anthony Santander comes to Hollywood

Another hard-hitting, poor-defending corner outfielder is available in free agency for the Dodgers to scoop up. Anthony Santander had a career year for the Orioles last season with 41 home runs. He hits free agency at the perfect time considering his career year and the rabid attention around Soto. A big-market team that misses out on Soto could spend big to bring Santander in.

The most attractive part of Santander’s profile is that he is a switch hitter. Dodgers Stadium is a neutral park in terms of hitting to either field, so he will be able to hit from both sides all season. It is not a place like Camden Yards that heavily favors left-handed hitters. That is something that Santander should target in his new home and LA provides it.

The Athletic projects Santander’s contract at five years, $105 million. They have Hernandez at a similar AAV but a shorter-term deal, so if they want to lock in an outfielder, they could go with Santander. The Dodgers will likely not move to Santander until Hernandez is claimed by someone else.