The Toronto Blue Jays’ chances of signing Teoscar Hernandez appear to be increasing

According to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Los Angeles Dodgers and free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez remain at a stalemate in their contract negotiations, leading the Dodgers to at least consider other options.

How serious the Dodgers are about these ventures — and how realistic some of them might be — remains to be seen.

Hernández, 32, is seeking a three-year deal between $66 million and $72 million, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The duration of the contract does not appear to be a point of contention between the parties. It’s about money.

However, if a deal between Hernandez and the Dodgers falls through, the Toronto Blue Jays could benefit. The Jays have been linked to a possible reunion with Hernandez since missing out on Juan Soto earlier this season. Bringing him into the middle of the rankings would give Vladimir Guerrero Jr. another contender and significantly increase the team’s offensive power. Additionally, it could signal to Guerrero Jr. that the organization is serious about winning and is capable of bringing in big names, which could increase the likelihood that he stays after he hits free agency at the end of the year.

A nine-year veteran, Hernandez spent six seasons with the Blue Jays. He helped lead them to the playoffs in 2020 and 2022 and reached the All-Star Game in 2021.

At the start of the 2023 season, the Blue Jays traded Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners. Hernandez was nearing the final year of his contract and the team wanted to save some money and clearly felt they could replace his production. The team also dealt Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and replaced her with Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier. While Toronto made the playoffs in 2023, they finished last in the American League East last season.

Hernandez hit .272 with 33 home runs and 99 RBI for the Dodgers this season, helping them win the World Series over the New York Yankees. He made it to the All-Star Game again.

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