January 9th, 2024 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 In terms of talent acquisition and guaranteed payroll commitments, the Dodgers 2023-24 Hot Stove season had already established stratospheric standards for MLB that may never be surpassed. Nevertheless, they added another significant player to their roster on Sunday by agreeing to a one-year, $23.5M ($20.34 AAV with deferrals) contract with free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who pencils in as the Dodgers regular left fielder and backup right fielder.
Hernández has the credentials of a right-handed hitter who feasts on southpaw pitchers. While some may point to 2023 as a down year for Teoscar, his stats away from the Seattle Mariners pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park (.830 OPS; 126 wRC+) were excellent. Dodger Stadium over the years has morphed from a pitchers park to a hitters park, especially as the summer temperatures rise. In addition, the team’s hitting coaches are considered some of the best in MLB.
The payroll and Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) implications are mind-boggling, but those are the concern of Dodgers ownership and financial gurus. While fans eyes may glaze over with the number of digits in the payroll and tax penalties, their focus is on World Series championships not dollar signs. And the team’s robust prospect pool renders the Rule-5 draft penalty (moving the Dodgers’ first pick back 10 spots) as a meaningless annoyance.
Notwithstanding the financial impacts, reportedly the Dodgers are continuing to shop. Depending on which blog you read, the team continues to pursue another starting pitcher, a closer-level reliever for the bullpen, and possibly an upgrade at shortstop.
The current 40-man roster is full, so we can expect another transaction in the next few days to make room for Hernández. However, the next Dodgers move may turn out to be a major trade that involves several rostered players. The Dodgers loaded roster and prospect depth makes a multi-player trade more likely than not. It will not be surprising to see three or more highly regarded prospects used as trade capital as the team focuses on multiple World Championships during the prime years of Mookie Betts, Walker Buehler, Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow, Max Muncy, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and others.
Love this quote from Max Muncy:
“Everybody is focused on one goal. People aren’t focused on trying to get their numbers, they’re not focused on things that don’t really matter on winning the game. We’ve had some guys that kind of cared about themselves a little bit and they’ve been shipped out. I think that’s just the cool thing about it. This clubhouse, it’s such a great clubhouse every single year.
“We have a lot of guys, new faces every year, and we always just mesh together. And that’s something the Dodgers also care about, is having clubhouse chemistry. That’s something they’ve always been focused on. When they bring in new faces, they like to do their homework and research on what kind of person they are, what kind of person they are in the clubhouse, what kind of person they are off the field, and it creates a really fun environment and it’s a place that a lot of people want to be.”
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I get excited for every Dodgers Opening Day, but I am REALLY excited for Opening Day 2024!
DITTO!
Hernandez signing may leave no playing time for Vargas (there was news about LF time). Both Vargas and Busch really do not have a path to PT. I expect both guys to be moved and my opinion is Cease is the guy.
I have the same thoughts about Vargas and Busch. With the Dodgers acquisition of Trey Sweeney (left handed hitting infielder) from the Yankees, Busch may be the more likely player to be traded. For me, if either or both are traded I would prefer a trade for LH starter like Miami’s Jesus Luzardo or Trevor Rogers that includes LH reliever Tanner Scott. Dodgers would have to add a pitcher in the deal to get that return. I am hopeful the Dodgers will re-sign Braiser for the bullpen, or trade with Nationals for Hunter Harvey or Mariners Matt Brash.
With the lineup the Dodgers have going into 2024 they are on paper the team to beat not just in 2024, but for years to come. And just wait until 2025 when Ohtani can pitch and they have Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin back as well. Fair warning to all MLB teams……Watch out !
Nice to see that Muncy ‘gets it.’ Great quote!
I am wondering which players Muncy was referring to. Syndergaard is probably one of them.
Looking back at rosters in last few years there are players who I would question with Trevor Bauer and Max Scherzer at the top of my questionable list
I’m thinking Bellinger, consistently going for homeruns when simply moving a runner along would suffice.
In terms of selfish players, Hanley Ramirez and Trevor Bauer were Friedman acquisition mistakes
But the bench only has 4 guys.
Barnes Margot Taylor M Rojas.
9 starters including the DH.
12 guys. Everybody will play.
Issue is going to be injuries and days off. Going to need backup at 3b for sure.
13 guys sorry
Taylor and Rojas can play third base. — I think Taylor would be a very good defender at the hot corner, and Rojas is one of the best defensive infielders I’ve watched play the game.
jP dodgers traded Busch and Almonte for Cubs number 8 prospect and another prospect.
Not surprised that Almonte and Busch were traded, but I thought they would get a better return
Savings of 2 mil Almonte contract.
Busch probably 700k. So a savings of close to 3 mil.
Not a good return unless that Cubs pitcher amounts to something.
If you factor in the CBT the savings is roughly another $3M
I was on board to get Bryan Reynolds for LF, but obviously the length of the contract might not have been good or Pittsburgh wanted too much. Nonetheless, I’m happy getting Teoscar. What do you think about keeping Vargas over Rojas ? Taylor and Betts can back-up shortstop. Vargas can play 1B, 2B, 3B, LF to fill in. With his versatility and Taylor’s, we can go multiple ways to get everyone a day off. I wouldn’t be opposed to bringing up Fedducia, replacing Barnes. Austin was just flat out terrible. I’m good with standing pat with our pitching staff… Letting our young arms sort things out. Hopefully May comes back strong after the ALL Star break and we can resign Kershaw for some second half starts too. I too, am really really excited and optimistic for the 2024 Dodgers !!!
Bryan Reynolds was my wishful hope — my guess, the Pirates are not even listening to trade offers for him. Regarding Vargas, he needs to go to OKC and learn to play third base. Barnes is an interesting question. Dodgers still value his handling of the pitching staff and with the overall offense the team can afford to keep him as the backup with Feduccia at OKC as the third catcher.
Vargas put up or shut up time.
He will be 25 yrs old in Nov.
Dodgers need him to show up.
I agree, he needs a dominant spring training and crush AAA pitching while showing he can be a passable defender at third or LF. If Andy Pages is 100% recovered from shoulder labrum surgery and Tre Sweeney demonstrates he can handle 3b offensively and defensively, Vargas will be a valuable trade chip at this season’s trade deadline
That’s what I was thinking. Unless he kills it he’s gone.