Dodgers Expected To Trade Teoscar Hernandez This Offseason

September 20, 2026
Teoscar Hernandez has been part of two Dodgers championship runs. 

That history alone might not be enough to keep him in Los Angeles past this coming offseason.

Ragazzo Names Him A Likely Trade Piece

FanSided's Pat Ragazzo listed Hernandez among his likely offseason trade candidates, pointing to a mix of contract timing and organizational depth that makes this offseason different from past speculation around him. 

"Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez's name came up in trade talks this past offseason," Ragazzo wrote. "He's also having a down year, but with a big postseason, he could increase his trade value." 

Hernandez is entering the final season of the three-year, $66 million contract he signed with Los Angeles going into the 2024-25 offseason, a substantial deal for a player who will turn 34 next season, and pending free agency after 2027 gives the Dodgers a natural offseason window to move him rather than risk letting his value erode further. 

Ragazzo also pointed to the organization's outfield pipeline as a driving factor, specifically No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula, who's part of what's been described as one of the deepest minor league outfield groups any team has ever assembled. 

"The Dodgers have No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula and other young outfielders in their farm system, who could replace Hernandez in left field next season," Ragazzo wrote. "It would make sense for the Dodgers to ship Hernandez out this offseason with one-year remaining on his deal." 

Hernandez's defense has also long been considered a weakness relative to his bat, which was part of why his name first surfaced in trade speculation last offseason as well, before Los Angeles ultimately chose to keep him and shift him to left field to make room for Kyle Tucker. 

A Complicated Year Makes The Case Harder To Read

Hernandez started the year hot before a hamstring strain in late May cost him significant time, and his return in late June came with a rough stretch that included a demotion to the bottom of the Dodgers' lineup. 

Since then, though, he's found form again. With both Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman missing time in September, Hernandez has stepped into a larger role in the lineup, giving Los Angeles a reason to believe his postseason resume, three championship runs already under his belt, could translate into a strong October that boosts his value right before the trade decision actually gets made. 

Complicating the picture further, Andy Pages is now locked in as the everyday center fielder and Tucker isn't going anywhere on his four-year, $240 million contract, which makes Hernandez the only realistic outfield trade chip on the Dodgers' active roster heading into the winter. 

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