Enrique Hernandez Expected To Sign In Coming Days

Hernandez's Potential Landing Spot

Enrique Hernández has garnered interest from the Angels this offseason and it is believed that he might prefer to stay with the Dodgers after finishing the previous season with them. However, it is uncertain if the Dodgers have made any attempts to bring him back. The exact number of teams interested in Hernandez remains unknown as of now.

The versatile utility player has played 10 seasons in the majors, spending the 2023 campaign with both the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although he struggled with the Red Sox, posting a .222/.279/.320 slash line with six home runs, his performance improved during his time with the Dodgers. In 185 plate appearances, he batted .262/.308/.423.

During the offseason, Hernandez underwent hernia surgery, but it is not expected to affect his readiness for Spring Training. While the injury may have impacted his offensive numbers, Hernandez has been below average at the plate for the past few seasons, with a slash line of .237/.305/.394 since 2019. It remains to be seen if he will secure a major league contract for the upcoming season.

Market Outlook for Hernandez

Considering the recent contracts signed by rebound hitters Amed Rosario, Gio Urshela, and Tim Anderson, Hernandez may face challenges in securing a sizable deal. Rosario and Urshela settled for $1.5MM guarantees, while Anderson received a $5MM contract. Hernandez's offensive production has been lower than that group in the past few seasons. Although he offers defensive flexibility and can play anywhere in the outfield, his attempt to become an everyday shortstop for the Red Sox did not go as planned.

As Hernandez enters his age-32 season, teams will need to weigh his versatility and potential upside against his recent offensive struggles. It remains to be seen which team will take a chance on him and what type of contract he will ultimately receive.