Free agency is well underway as we await the restart of the next MLB season. Looking at one player who is still available and should secure a new contract before the new season is outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. He has been receiving interest from several teams. Among them, the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels. Both are looking to bolster their roster after underwhelming campaigns last season.
Alex Speier of the Boston Globe has gone as far as to claim the Red Sox and Hernandez have been discussing contract parameters. No offer has been made just yet, and nothing is quite close to being imminent. With the domination of Shohei Ohtani in the free-agent market this season before he chose to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hernandez has been overlooked. He is one of the most underrated players that remain available.
What Makes Teoscar Hernandez an Attractive Option
31-year-old Hernandez was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Seattle Mariners before the start of last season. The Blue Jays attempted to bolster their bullpen with the return in that deal. Hernandez, meanwhile, exploded offensively again. In 625 at-bats with the Mariners last season, Hernandez hit 26 home runs and added 93 runs batted in while hitting at a .258 batting average.
As a veteran player, it’s clear Hernandez still has plenty left in the tank. He will likely demand a good amount of money so teams will have to shell out some cash to bring him in. That said, he’s worth it. The Blue Jays loved his presence around his teammates as he always seemed to be in a good mood. He brought the morale up, and on the field, he can be an impact player.
The Angels have a fairly healthy outfield with Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, and Mickey Moniak with Jo Adell and Luis Rengifo backing them up. As for the Red Sox, they have Tyler O’Neill, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Rob Refsnyder as well as Masataka Yoshida. It seems as though either team could be a good fit for Hernandez. Time will tell where he ends up going.
Hernandez would surely love to push for a World Series in the next couple of seasons. As such, it would be no surprise if he signed with a middle-of-the-pack team. It could be on a short-term deal to show contending teams he can still be an impact player — a nice way to finish out his career. Time will tell what he chooses to do. But, it seems like the Red Sox and Angels are the frontrunners to bring him in.
