According to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers and free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez remain at an impasse in their contract discussions, forcing the Dodgers to at least consider other options.

It remains to be seen how seriously the Dodgers take these pursuits — and how realistic some of them might be.

Hernández, 32, is seeking a three-year deal between $66 million and $72 million, according to a person briefed on the negotiations. The duration of the contract does not appear to be a subject of contention between the parties. The problem is money.

If a deal between Hernandez and the Dodgers falls through, the Toronto Blue Jays could benefit. The Jays have been linked to a possible Hernandez reunion since missing out on Juan Soto earlier this offseason. Adding him to the middle of the order would give Vladimir Guerrero Jr. another running mate and significantly increase the team’s offensive power. Additionally, it could help signal to Guerrero Jr. that the organization is serious about winning and is capable of signing big names, which could make him more likely to stick around after hitting free agency at the end of the season. year.

A nine-year veteran, Hernandez spent six seasons with the Blue Jays. He helped them qualify for the playoffs in 2020 and 2022, and to the All-Star Game in 2021.

As the 2023 season approaches, the Blue Jays traded Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners. Hernandez was entering the final year of his contract and the team wanted to save money and clearly felt they could replace his production. The team also cut Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and replaced them with Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier. Although Toronto made the playoffs in 2023, they finished last in the American League East last season.

Hernandez hit .272 with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs this season for the Dodgers, helping them win the World Series against the New York Yankees. He participated in the All-Star Game again.

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