Dodgers, Kiké Hernández Agree to Reported 1-Year Contract After Manuel Margot Trade
The Los Angeles Dodgers reached a new deal with utility man Kiké Hernández on Monday.
Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reported Hernández and the Dodgers agreed to a one-year deal worth $4 million.
ESPN's Jeff Passan previously reported the two sides were nearing a deal.
The move comes after Passan reported the Dodgers traded veteran center fielder Manuel Margot to the Minnesota Twins.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in December a reunion between Hernández and the Dodgers was possible.
The 32-year-old has spent seven seasons with the Dodgers across two different spells. He closed out the 2023 campaign in Los Angeles, compiling a .262/.308/.423 slash line along with five homers in 54 games.
For his career, Hernández is a slightly below-average hitter. He has a 93 OPS+ and a .719 OPS, per Baseball Reference.
His defensive versatility, however, has made him an invaluable piece for teams with championship aspirations. He has occupied every position in the field except for catcher during his time in the bigs.
Having a Swiss Army knife is a nice luxury for manager Dave Roberts to have when navigating a 162-game season. Starters eventually get hurt or need a rest, and Roberts can turn to Hernández to play just about anywhere in a pinch.
From the moment the offseason started, the Dodgers signing Hernández felt almost like a fait accompli given how perfectly he has fit into the squad over time.
