TL;DR - Scouting Report
The Mets offered Teoscar Hernández a two-year deal with similar annual value to the Dodgers’ contract just a day before he agreed to return to L.A., but their shorter offer fell short of his demand for a third year. Here's how it unfolded.
Start the Rally: Tweet This Now!The New York Mets made a last ditch effort to sign free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández, offering a two-year deal with an annual average value similar to the three-year, $66 million contract he ultimately accepted from the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the Mets’ offer came just one day before Hernández agreed to return to L.A.
Hernández had made it clear he wanted to stay with the Dodgers, with MLB Insider Jon Heyman quoting him as saying he “1000 percent wanted to return.” However, the negotiations were drawn out. Many expected a deal to follow soon after Juan Soto’s record-breaking contract with the Mets. Instead, the process stretched for over two weeks, sparking speculation about whether other teams might take advantage of the delay to make a stronger push.
While the Mets’ offer was competitive in terms of annual salary, it’s unclear how close they and other teams truly came to swaying Hernández away from his stated preference to return to Los Angeles. Sammon’s report suggests the two-year offer may have fallen short largely because Hernandez’s camp reportedly demanded to add a third year. In the end, the Dodgers met his terms, ensuring the reunion many viewed as inevitable.
