Latest Teoscar Hernández extension update opens door for Dodgers' rivals

There's not much more Teoscar Hernández can do or say to make it clearer that he should be a Dodger for the foreseeable future. He's said he wants to stay multiple times, even on national television during primetime, and he made it even clearer that he should stay during Game 3 of the NLDS against the Padres, when he hit a grand slam to cut the Dodgers' deficit from five to one and spared the team from complete humiliation after the loss.

When we predicted a new contract for Hernández, we guessed four years and $100 million, with a potential option worth $25 million for a fifth year. If the Dodgers get past the DS and he keeps hitting like this through the rest of the postseason, he might be able to squeeze out even more.

However, Hernández told reporters ahead of Friday night's elimination game that he and the Dodgers haven't had any formal talks about an extension or a new contract.

That's not altogether surprising; while Hernández has been excellent throughout the year, the Dodgers have bigger fish to fry right now before they can turn their attention to gearing up for 2025. It's better to stay in the here and now, but we can also practically feel other interested teams starting to circle.

Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers haven't engaged in extension talks yet

Not only do the Dodgers have a World Series to try to win this season, they also have the future of a top prospect to think about. Dalton Rushing, their Minor League Player of the Year, made a position switch from catcher/first base to left field ahead of his promotion to Triple-A. This seemed like a move to allow Rushing to get his MLB debut with the Dodgers instead of them having to trade him, but he'd be blocked again if the Dodgers re-sign Hernández.

And maybe they will choose to go that route. Hernández has proven himself a great addition to any lineup this year, and Rushing could be an incredibly potent trade piece for LA. Still, their equivocation should definitely look like a door's opening to other interested teams.

The Red Sox may be a potential suitor; Hernández's decision making last year came down to Boston and LA, but he chose to go to LA because he wanted to go to a team that would win. The Red Sox finished with a flat .500 record this year, so we wouldn't exactly call them winners, but if there's no room in LA, he may as well go somewhere that's already expressed interest, and should definitely be willing to up their offer a second time around. After all, Boston proved this past summer that they're closer than most outsiders thought.

Win now and think about contracts later, yes, and Hernández does seem like he'll wait as long as the Dodgers need to decide whether or not they want him back. That doesn't mean, though, that he can't listen to other enticing offers that might pull him away if LA waits too long.