Dodgers: Kiké Hernández’s market changed after latest Mets scandal

Still unlikely to return to the Dodgers, Kiké Hernández’s market may have been affected by the Jared Porter scandal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers seem poised to lose the versatile Kiké Hernández this offseason, which will likely be a larger-than-anticipated departure from their current clubhouse.

Unfortunately, like many free agents entering the 2021 freeze, Hernández’s future still feels very much uncertain, and it may have been dealt a calculated blow this week by something entirely outside his control.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Hernández and the Mets had been matched, with the 29-year-old receiving “pretty strong” interest from one of very few teams actively trying to improve on the current market.

Only problem? The Mets are the only MLB team to undergo two regime changes this offseason, losing GM Jared Porter this week after his extremely disturbing text messages to a female reporter surfaced. It’s unclear if, without Porter in place, Hernández still has fans in Flushing.

Per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, the other theorized destination for Hernández this offseason still tracks — the Red Sox remain interested, and might be able to settle on the utility man soon and pair him with Christian Arroyo at second.

But the Red Sox — for the first time in a long time — present an entirely different situation than the Mets or Dodgers, two teams that are actively preparing to compete for a title this offseason.

Outside of that pairing as well as the Padres and Yankees, there might not be any fully appealing destination remaining for Hernández, who’s used to on-field success following him.

Of course, after everything we’ve learned about the character of Porter over the past few days, Hernández is glad that he dodged such a bullet of establishing a further relationship with him or the franchise.

As for the Dodgers? They still seem primed to bring back Justin Turner and let the rest of the 2020 championship-winning free agents, from Hernández to Joc Pederson, walk, and are also entertaining a union with Marcus Semien, formerly of the A’s.

Now that nearly a week has passed since the DJ LeMahieu signing with the Yankees was announced, we may be seeing some movement on the infield market.

Maybe.

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