Dodgers' reunion with Teoscar Hernandez seemingly losing steam by the hour

The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signing Teoscar Hernández was never a guarantee, but it really seemed like they were a lock to do it; the only question was when.

Hernández rejected the qualifying offer, as expected, and became a fully-fledged free agent in mid-November. The Dodgers swiftly said that they were engaged in talks to get him back, and we all know how Hernández felt about his year in LA.

However, during Winter Meetings, Alden González of ESPN reported that there were "gaps" between the two parties in negotiations that they'd been stuck trying to bridge for weeks. Dodgers fans have been begging the team to get a move on and re-sign him, but a significant hold-up like that explains the silence.

It's allowed other teams to come out of the woodwork. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays — all of whom just saved $700 million or more by not signing Juan Soto — were probably already going to pounce, but now there seems to be even more of a crack in the door for one of them to slide in and steal him.

To make matters worse, Andrew Friedman gave an update, of sorts, as to where the Dodgers' mindset is regarding Hernández, and it wasn't great. He said, "If he decides to sign somewhere else, we have no other choice to wish him well."

Andrew Friedman's Teoscar Hernández update gives Dodgers fans reason to be concerned

If talks have been at a standstill for a while, then Soto's mammoth signing with the Mets probably doesn't factor in. It won't be a surprise if Soto's deal drives up Hernández's price with any buying team that swoops in behind the Dodgers, but with LA, it might be a matter of years they're willing to offer. FanSided insider Robert Murray speculated that Hernández's sweet spot was around three years and $72 million, which was widely predicted, but also said he might be interested in a fourth year.

That could be where the separation is, but it's impossible to say. If the issue really is money, then it'll be easy to get angry at the Dodgers, who were also prepared to give Soto $600 million and just gave Tommy Edman $74 million.

Whatever it is, the Dodgers should be doing what they can to try to straighten it out. Those interested AL East teams are likely to come in hot with their offers as soon as they really smell blood in the water.