The Los Angeles Dodgers appear prepared to retool, bring new life to their lineup and possibly their bullpen, while giving their aging core another opportunity to win the World Series.

Teoscar Hernández could become one casualty of that roster overhaul. He is 34 years old, entering an expiring contract and showing signs of decline.

Hernández has never been known for his defense, which is now below average. He also struggled during the postseason, hitting .200/.219/.300 with one home run, three RBIs and a .519 OPS in eight games.

More importantly, Hernández occupies an outfield position that could theoretically go to Josue De Paula, allowing the young hitter to join Shohei Ohtani in the offense.

At his best, Hernández remains an important power hitter in the middle of the lineup. He is also well-liked by his teammates and Dodgers fans.

Hernández hit .267 with 16 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .759 OPS in 125 games in 2026. His average, home runs, RBIs and games played were his lowest totals during his three seasons with Los Angeles.

However, Katie Woo from The Athletic is uncertain that the Dodgers will trade Hernández under the current circumstances.

During an appearance on Dodgers Territory, Woo explained that De Paula still requires considerable defensive development.

The looming lockout could prevent Dodgers coaches from maintaining contact with him, potentially limiting that progress and creating questions about his readiness to become a full-time left fielder.

Trading Hernández presents another obstacle because he is scheduled to earn approximately $15 million in 2027.

Considering both issues and the uncertainty created by the lockout, Woo believes moving Hernández to create room for De Paula is more complicated than it appears.

She described the transaction as logical on paper but said De Paula’s defensive uncertainty leaves her divided on what the Dodgers should do.

“On paper, it seems like an easy transaction,” Woo said. “This makes a lot of sense, but the more you dive into it and the more there’s that uncertainty over what JDP is going to look like defensively, the more I can go 50-50 on what they should do with Teo.”

Los Angeles would be surprising everyone by returning without meaningful changes after its 2026 roster lacked youth.

Beyond Miguel Rojas leaving, moving Hernández represents the clearest path toward becoming younger. The other possibility would involve Tommy Edman shifting into a full-time utility role after the Dodgers acquire an infield star through a trade.

De Paula’s impressive offensive performance during his brief MLB opportunity makes it difficult to justify delaying his development by denying him regular defensive innings.

His offensive ability could add energy, athleticism and unpredictability to a veteran lineup. Regular playing time would also allow him to learn through mistakes rather than remaining in a limited role that provides little opportunity for adjustment.

Hernández still offers power, experience and a strong connection with the clubhouse. However, keeping him would preserve the same roster structure that Los Angeles appears ready to change.

De Paula has the potential to become an X-factor. Unless the Dodgers intend to run everything back, trading Hernández could create playing time while freeing resources for another move, whether that means adding prospect depth or completing a separate trade.