It's no secret how Dodgers are going to handle Kiké Hernandez situation for 2026

From a clubhouse culture standpoint, it’s extremely difficult to imagine Kiké Hernandez wearing anything other than a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform before he ultimately retires. The three-time World Series champ has become synonymous with the Dodgers’ postseason swag, which is why, despite his free-agent status, it feels like Hernandez will ultimately end up back in Los Angeles in 2026.

Kiké’s elbow injury from 2025 turned out to be a lot worse than initially assumed, which could cause him to miss the first couple of months of the ’26 campaign. This has analysts assuming that we won’t hear anything about Hernández’s FA status until much later in the offseason, while the Dodgers attend to more urgent signings. Kiké’s injury is just one more reason that LA might be shopping for outfielders right now (Cody Bellinger, anyone?).

That being said, Kiké’s return to the team doesn’t really depend on other moves. Somehow, you get the sense that the Dodgers will simply always have room for him, even if it’s just as a rarely-used veteran down the road (as Miguel Rojas figures to be next season).

It's easy to see why Kiké Hernández will end up back on the Dodgers

Dodgers PBO Andrew Friedman said himself during the Winter Meetings that he will “never shut the door on Kiké,” per Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain. McKain also affirmed that “all signs” point to Kiké ending up back with the Dodgers, although the next announcement in that regard might not come until the arrival of Spring Training and the opening of the 60-day IL.

Hernández appeared as a guest on Baseball & Coffee with Adam Ottavino a few weeks ago and relayed the information about his elbow being far worse than he and the Dodgers thought. That’s probably because Kiké was able to play through the injury and deliver some clutch postseason moments during the 2025 title run, per usual. 

Interestingly, Hernández hasn’t changed his profile picture in the manner that he traditionally does during free agency — to an image of a Dodgers cap emblazoned with a question mark. Fans have interpreted this as a sign that Kiké sees the writing on the wall for his return, like the rest of us.

For a normal franchise, the idea of paying any amount of money to an aging and injured outfielder might feel risky. But the Dodgers, of course, aren’t normal. While their seemingly ceiling-less budget allows Friedman to match any figure required to reel in the biggest talents in the world, it also creates other, less-glamorous benefits like the ability to bring back vets ... just because.

Kiké isn’t on Rojas’ level in terms of usage, but he might be in the future. With the wallet LA’s working with, there’s no reason to part ways with the fan-favorite Hernández between now and then, or perhaps ever again.