Los Angeles Dodgers fans had been holding their breath for nearly two months but got a late Christmas present when Teoscar Hernández re-signed with the Boys in Blue on a 3-year contract worth $66 million.
Everyone knew that Hernández wanted to remain in LA, but he was meeting with other teams and there was a chance he could sign elsewhere.
According to Tim Healy of Newsday Sports, the New York Mets offered Hernández a two-year deal just this week.
Teoscar Hernández Could Have Been A New York Met
The main players in the Hernández sweepstakes always seemed to be the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees, with the Giants as a late wild card. After the Mets signed Juan Soto, they thought they would be out on Hernaández, but that was not the case.
- Teoscar Hernandez stats (ESPN): .272/.339/.501, .840 OPS, 33 home runs, 32 doubles, 99 RBI
An outfield with both Soto and Hernández would have been one of the best in baseball, and as Healy said, would have most likely moved Brandon Nimmo back to Centerfield.
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Ultimately, Hernández got what he wanted and remained in LA.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will still be the team to beat as they look to repeat as World Series Champions, but it is clear, that the New York Mets may be their biggest contender in the NL for the foreseeable future.