Angels Miss Out on Top Free Agent Outfielder to Crosstown Rival Dodgers

Free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Reporter Moises Fabian of 97.9-FM in New York was the first to report the agreement. ESPN's Jeff Passan was the first to report the contract details:

BREAKING: Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $23.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Hernández joins Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow on the new-look Dodgers, who add another All-Star bat to the lineup.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 8, 2024

The Los Angeles Angels were reportedly one of the three frontrunners for Hernández as of Friday. In the end, the Dodgers came away with the All-Star outfielder.

Hernández ended up agreeing to a larger one-year deal in favor of the multi-year offers he had on the table, according to Passan.

According to reporter Francis Romero, the Angels did not present a formal offer to Hernández:

Red Sox and Angels were the other two teams with a strong interest in Teoscar Hernández, per sources.

The Angels didn’t make an offer for Hernández but they were interested in signing it with a two-year contract. pic.twitter.com/r1qGjfoZDv
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) January 8, 2024

The Boston Red Sox — the third reported frontrunner — reportedly offered Hernández a contract in the two-year, $28 million range:

Source: Red Sox weren't competitive at the end for Teoscar Hernández, with discussions centering around 2-year, $28M framework and then petering out.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) January 8, 2024

Boston will reportedly pivot to Jorge Soler, a veteran outfielder with power from the right side, like Hernández.

As for the Angels, they have to go back to the drawing board to continue to improve their roster. They lost their most reliable source of home runs when Shohei Ohtani left in free agency, agreeing to a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December.

Outside of Hernández and Soler, the free agent market yields several options for the Angels to pick up a credible home run hitter.

J.D. Martinez swatted 33 homers in a resurgent 2022 campaign with the Dodgers, and would slot in easily to Ohtani's vacant DH spot. Rhys Hoskins hit 30 home runs for Philadelphia in 2022 before missing all of 2023 with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Justin Turner has averaged 21 home runs over every non-pandemic season since 2015, though his age (39) could be a deterrent. Matt Chapman hit 36 home runs in 2019 with the Oakland A's, but only has 71 over the last three seasons combined.

On Saturday, general manager Perry Minasian confirmed the team was still looking to make moves. However, that move won't be the one-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger award winner in Hernandez.

On the bright side, there's this: Hernandez, the former Seattle Mariner, won't be in the American League West any longer.