The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 2024. Many key players are hitting free agency, and the team may not be able to afford all of them.
One of the Dodgers' key free agents is Teoscar Hernández. While listing potential landing spots for the All-Star, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly named the Philadelphia Phillies as an option.
"Hernández will be a popular player to connect to the Phillies this offseason, given that he would balance out a lineup that is very left-handed and represents an offensive upgrade over Brandon Marsh, who has some clear limitations, particularly against left-handed pitching," wrote Kelly.
Spotrac projects Hernández to sign a three-year, $71 million deal in free agency. While the Phillies are certainly no stranger to offseason spending, Hernández may not fit the mold of what Philadelphia needs.
"As is, a Phillies lineup led by Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos is too reliant on one or two swings winning them games," wrote Kelly. "Schwarber, for all he does well, struck out 197 times this past season. Turner and Castellanos are both free swingers who are streaky."
Hernández hit a career-high 33 home runs on a "prove it" deal with the Dodgers. The Phillies may not need another power hitter, but passing on Hernández may not be the way to go. Teams would struggle to pitch through a lineup with so much power. The Dodgers would like to keep Hernández, and he may want to stay after winning the World Series. However, the Dodgers may blow their offseason budget on a premier shortstop like Willy Adames.
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