The Dodgers deliver Kike Hernández after the 2026 season. Utilityman first announced the deal on social media. It’s a one-year, $4.5MM deal for a Wasserman client, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. The Dodgers will need to make room on the 40-man roster once the signing is over, though they can do so by putting a newly re-signed reliever. Evan Phillips on the 60-day injured list.
Hernández spent the last two and a half seasons in LA He sandwiched a few seasons in Boston in between but spent most of his career with the Dodgers. Hernández was an elite player early in his career, playing defense all over the diamond while also hitting left-handed pitches. His offensive production has waned over the past few years, but the Dodgers love him as a clubhouse center and he remains a versatile defender.
The 34-year-old Hernández is hitting .203/.255/.366 in 256 regular season plate appearances. He hit 10 home runs in 93 games but hit a career-high 26.6% clip. Since returning to LA at the 2023 trade deadline, he is a .228/.279/.382 hitter in just over 800 trips to the plate. His .220/.278/.393 line against lefties is well below what he did against southpaws early in his career.
Hernández has a strong postseason record, compiling an .826 OPS over 103 games in October. That didn’t really happen last season, when he hit .250/.290/.359 with one homer in 69 plate appearances. Yet he clearly trusted captain Dave Roberts, who listed Hernández in the lineup for every game of the World Series run. He played mostly left field as the Dodgers lost faith in the fall Andy Pages. That ended with the third World Series victory of his career, as he was part of the 2020 and ’24 clubs.
There is no space in the starting lineup entering the season. They signed Kyle Tucker playing right field, pushing Teoscar Hernández to the left. Kiké Hernández can take some advocates of the field but has not been since 2022. That will probably fall on the pages and possibly Tommy Edmandepending on how the Dodgers feel about him making up more ground coming off ankle surgery. Hernández will be available on the bench and could take a few at-bats from it Max Muncy at third base against left-handed pitching. He will provide a reasonable defensive alternative to Teoscar Hernández in the late game.
Hernández and Miguel Rojas there are locks for bench roles, as is backup (most likely Dalton Rushing). That would leave one possible destination Hyeseong Kim if Edman is ready for Opening Day. In the event that Edman needs an IL stint, Kim will step into second place and there will be one spot available. Alex Call, Ryan Ward or Alex Freeland.
The Dodgers are taxed at a rate of 110% as a third rate payer on a CBT number of more than $304MM. RosterResource lists their luxury tax earnings at over $400MM. The Hernández signing will cost them $9.45MM between his salary and the accompanying $4.95MM tax bill.
Photo courtesy of Michael McLoone, Imagn Images.
