The Los Angeles Dodgers were the most aggressive team in MLB free agency last year, adding three starting pitchers and two top sluggers before the 2024 MLB season. Fresh off those moves leading to a World Series title, the Dodgers are once again expected to be very active in free agency and trades this winter.
It should come as no surprise that pitching is one of the club’s greatest needs. However, with Mookie Betts moving back to the infield and Teoscar Hernandez testing MLB free agency, the list of Dodgers free agent targets also extends to the outfield.
- Los Angeles Dodgers payroll 2025 (FanGraphs): $276 million, first in MLB
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With that in mind, let’s dive into our Dodgers free agent targets for the outfield in 2025.
Juan Soto, New York Yankees
If you can’t beat them, join them. Juan Soto stated after the New York Yankees lost the World Series to Los Angeles that he would be open to signing with any team. While that might be the case, the perennial MVP candidate both wants to compete for championships each year and be one of the highest-paid MLB players ever. The Dodgers are the perfect landing spot for him.
- Juan Soto stats (ESPN): .288/419/.569, .989 OPS, 41 home runs, 109 RBI, 31 doubles
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Signing Soto would mean adding another $600-plus million contract to the Dodgers payroll in the years to come. Unlike Shohei Ohtani, the 26-year-old outfielder wants his money paid out over the duration of the contract and not deferred after his playing career ends. While that could make it more complicated for Los Angeles, especially with how aggressive the Yankees and New York Mets plan to be, Soto is an option.
The reasoning is obvious. He’s coming off consecutive seasons with 109 RBI, 35-plus home runs, a .410-plus OBP and an OPS over .900. Adding him to a Dodgers lineup with Ohtani and Mookie Betts would provide Los Angeles with the three leading candidates for NL MVP in 2025. However, among our Dodgers free agent targets, Soto is the least likeliest to happen because the club can instead spend that money on multiple players.
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Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Teoscar Hernandez played an integral role in the success for the Dodgers lineup in 2024. The corner outfielder posted his highest OPS (.840), RBI (99) and home run totals (33) since making the All-Star team with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021. He also proved to be an excellent fit in the Dodgers clubhouse and Los Angeles has made it clear that culture matters.
- Teoscar Hernandez stats (ESPN): .272/.339/.501, .840 OPS, 33 home runs, 32 doubles, 99 RBI
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Hernandez also already made MLB news this offseason by stating his desire to return to Los Angeles. Playign in a lineup with Betts, Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith made life considerably easier for the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. While Hernandez is a negative defensively in the outfield, his run production and fit in the clubhouse will make re-signing him a priority for Los Angeles. Of our Dodgers free agent targets in the outfield, Hernandez is by far the likeliest to sign.
Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles
If Los Angeles ultimately loses a bidding war for Teoscar Hernandez, then it would make sense for the club to shifts its focus to former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander. The 30-year-old earned his first selection to the All-Star Game this past season and would provide similar pop to Hernandez.
- Anthony Santander stats (ESPN): .235/.308/.506, .814 OPS, 44 home runs, 102 RBI, 25 doubles, 140 hits in 595 at-bats
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Santander has also done a nice job avoiding strikeouts, lowering his K-rate from 23.2 percent in 2023 to 19.4 percent this ast season. While he did post his lowest batting average (.235) since 2018 this ast year, it came with his highest wRC+ (129) since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Averaging 35 home runs 95 RBI per season over the last three years, Santander would be an ideal replacement for Hernandez.
Tyler O’Neill, Boston Red Sox
Alex Verdugo’s comments regarding Los Angeles during the World Series probably ensured that he won’t be one of the Dodgers free agent targets this winter. Meanwhile, the likes of Mark Canha, Joc Pederson, Jurickson Profar and Max Kepler just might not be what the club is looking for. Instead, we’re highlighting Tyler O’Neill as a potential upside bet for Los Angeles.
- Tyler O’Neill stats (ESPN): .241/.336/.511, .847 OPS, 31 home runs, 18 doubles in 411 ABs
Tyler O’Neill could either be a long-term outfield option for Los Angeles or be picked for one of the one-year deals with a higher AAV that the club loves. O’Neill, who turns 30 in June, is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner with excellent power.
This past season with the Bososton Red Sox, O’Neill ranked in the 90th percentile for bat speed and Hard-Hit rate while finishing in the 98th percentile for Barrel rate (17.3 percent), per Baseball Savant. He cleared 30-plus home runs for the first time since 2021, posting the second-highest OPS of his career. Not only could O’Neill potentially replicated Hernandez’s production, but he would also be better defensively.
