Projecting a Teoscar Hernández contract with Dodgers for 2025 and beyond

Dodgers fans might riot if the team doesn't re-sign Teoscar Hernández during the offseason. Hernández has an All-Star appearance, a Home Run Derby win, 31 homers, and 93 RBI in his first year with the Dodgers, and he's been a more constant presence in the lineup than anyone except Shohei Ohtani. He stayed consistent during the two months when the Dodgers were without Mookie Betts and Max Muncy, and was a massive highlight even in some of LA's weakest-looking lineups in years.

Hernández has made it clear that he wants to stay in LA after his one-year deal is up. He said as much in primetime, during a mic'ed up half-inning on Apple TV's Friday Night Baseball. It sounds like all the Dodgers have to do is put a contract in front of him, and they shouldn't let that opportunity pass them by.

Bob Nightengale, speaking to Dodgers Nation's Doug McKain, gave a vague idea of the kind of contract Hernández might be looking at in free agency: "A five-year deal for over $100 million." That's a good ballpark estimate, but we can get a little more specific.

What could a new Dodgers-Teoscar Hernández contract look like when slugger hits free agency?

Five years and $100 million flat makes an AAV of $20 million, and Hernández certainly deserves more than that per year when he'll eventually get $23.5 million from the Dodgers for this year in LA (he has $8.5 million in deferrals to be paid out from 2030 to 2039). Looking at players who are making exactly $25 million this year — Giancarlo Stanton, Marcus Semien, George Springer, and Jose Altuve — $25 million seems like a safe guess for a potential AAV.

Then there's the question of years. The Dodgers will have Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Will Smith until they're all on the cusp of 40. That's a little insane, and although it's already unlikely they'll keep Hernández for quite as long, they definitely shouldn't keep five roster spots locked up for that long with players that old. Even five years feels a little too long, so we'll take it down to four with a club option for a fifth year. All told, that's four years, $100 million, with a potential extra year worth another $25 million.

The Dodgers do have the future of their No. 1 prospect and Minor League Player of the Year Dalton Rushing to think about when they consider re-signing Hernández. Rushing made a move to left field this season in Triple-A, and his path ahead will likely be in the outfield. Betts has right locked up; center is a little more up for grabs with Tommy Edman playable anywhere, but Hernández hasn't played center at all this year (and shouldn't).

Re-signing Hernández to a long-term deal would definitely make it seem like Rushing is destined to be a prime trade piece, but after the year Hernández has had, they might want to go that route. Dodgers fans would certainly be happy to keep him.