Dodgers finalize 1 year, $23.5M US deal with slugger Teoscar Hernandez

Teoscar Hernandez finalized a $23.5 million US, one year contract with the Dodgers on Friday, the latest deal by big spending Los Angeles that includes deferred money. The outfielder agreed to defer $8.5 million that will be paid in 10 equal installments each July 1 from 2030 39. He also has provisions for large bonuses: Hernandez would get $3 million if he finishes among the top five in MVP voting, $2 million if he is sixth through 10th and $500,000 if he is 11th through 15th.

He would get $1 million for his third Silver Slugger Award. Los Angeles has been baseball's top spender this off season, committing $1,235,687,500 to two way star Shohei Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, and Hernandez. Bring the energy, Teoscar. pic.twitter.com/ccEifDGYVu — @Dodgers Ohtani's record $700 million, 10 year contract includes $680 million in deferred payments.

The Dodgers owe deferred payments to Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Hernandez totaling $865.5 million from 2033 44. An All Star in 2021, the 31 year old Hernandez hit .258 with 26 homers and 93 RBIs last year in his only season with Seattle, which acquired him from Toronto in a November 2022 trade.

He had 12 assists, tied for third in the major leagues among outfielders. Hernandez hit .296 with 32 homers and 112 RBIs in 2021, making his only All Star roster. He has a .261 career average with 159 homers, 473 RBIs and 58 outfield assists for the Blue Jays (2016 22) and Mariners. He joins a powerful batting order projected to include Betts, Ohtani, Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy and Jason Heyward.

Dodgers hire Ibanez Meanwhile, the Dodgers also hired former All Star outfielder Raul Ibanez as vice president of baseball development and special projects, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the move.

It will be Ibanez's second stint with the Dodgers. He was a special assistant with the team from 2016 21. The 51 year old had been working for MLB as senior vice president of on field operations for the last three years. Ibanez spent 19 years in the majors with Seattle, Kansas City, Philadelphia, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels.

The left fielder helped the Phillies reach the 2009 World Series.