Rumors are circulating as the Winter Meetings come to an end that Hernández could be headed to Kansas City.
While plenty of news - hello, Edwin Diaz! - was made by the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Winter Meetings, which are now over, in Orlando, Fla., there might be another trade or two in the works.
There are some reports out of Orland that Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández might be headed to an American League team, specifically the Kansas City Royals.
Hernández has provided the Dodgers with a pretty steady bat at the plate, but his defensive efforts have left Dodgers fans wanting a little more consistent play out of him.
Neither Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, nor Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes have intimated a trade involving Hernández was in the works.
"The Dodgers continue to 'kick the tires; on trading Teoscar Hernández, a league source said, though general manager Brandon Gomes said Monday that trading the right fielder 'doesn’t feel likely," according to a report from The Athletic's Kaite Woo and Fabian Ardaya.
"Still, the Dodgers might feel inclined to deal Hernández, whose defense declined last year, to free up roster space," the report indicates. "The Kansas City Royals have coveted an offense-first outfielder, and have interest in Hernández, a league source said."
So, what about a pursuit of free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, the hottest name in the free agent market?
"The Dodgers already have an outfield need even before trading Hernández, which means Tucker’s name will remain relevant," according to The Athletic report.
"The Dodgers are unlikely to offer the 28-year-old a deal over five years, per a source familiar with the club’s thinking," the report indicates. "However, Los Angeles would consider a shorter deal of three or four years with a higher annual average value, similar to the deal Alex Bregman signed with the Boston Red Sox last offseason. A reunion with Cody Bellinger also remains on the table, though a long-term signing is unlikely."
In the 2025 MLB season, Hernández had a slash line of .247/.284/.454 with 25 home runs and 89 RBIs. Besides the Dodgers, Hernández also has played for the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners.
If the Royals were able to pick up Hernández, would they primarily use him as a designated hitter? They might shy away from wanting him in the outfield at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City.
But the Dodgers just might look to hang on to him if they don't get any attractive trade offerings. Don't think, though, that since the Winter Meetings are now over that any trade talks involving Hernández are dead.
There's still plenty of time before Spring Training in 2026 to have something take place.