Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Teoscar Hernandez shares insight into free-agency decision

By Lauren Higgins | Last updated 2/19/24

The Boston Red Sox have missed out on a handful of free-agent stars this winter – one of them being slugger Teoscar Hernández. Hernández signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year, $23.5M deal in January.

Recently, he joined the "Flippin' Bats" podcast and shared some insight into his free agency decision-making process.

"It was Boston and the Dodgers," Hernández told "Flippin' Bats" host Ben Verlander. "We were trying to get more years in Boston. The only years that they offered were two...The best opportunity and the best chance that I had to get a good deal was the Dodgers."

Striking out on Hernández was a huge loss for the Sox. He would've been the right-handed power bat the lineup needed, and historically, he has hit well in Boston. In 45 career games, he has slashed .282/.344/.606 with 14 home runs and 44 RBI at Fenway Park.

Teoscar Hernandez was pretty transparent about his desire to play for the Boston Red Sox.

However the Sox weren’t willing to meet his asks.

Now, he’s happy and excited to lace ‘em up for the Dodgers this season.

Listen here ⬇️https://t.co/pcQxoYpy2k

pic.twitter.com/FKZbIACCeo
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) February 19, 2024

"Boston," Hernández said when asked what his favorite ballpark to play in was. "I love the way the fans are...Even when people don't think about the stadium [because] it's really old, for me it's one of the best ones. I don't know why it is, I don't know what it is, but it just feels good to play there."

Hernández said that his love for Fenway and the fans played a role in his decision.

"I cannot lie about it," Hernández said. "I was really excited because they were showing a lot of interest, but they didn't come with a good deal, so I had to decide to go somewhere else."

Another factor that played into his decision was playoff contention. With the way the offseason has been going for Boston, it makes sense why he didn't choose them.

"For me, it wasn't hard to make the decision to go with the Dodgers because I know coming to this organization is going to give me more experience," Hernández told Juan Toribio of MLB.com in January. "In this free agency, I want to go to a team that can compete and be in the playoffs and an organization that makes me a better player, so that's the biggest reason I signed with the Dodgers."

Fans were very close to seeing Hernández in a Red Sox uniform. Instead, he will be rocking Dodger Blue on the West Coast during the 2024 season.

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