Los Angeles Dodgers Predicted to Trade Teoscar Hernandez to Royals

National League Championship Series: Los Angeles Dodgers v Milwaukee Brewers - Game One

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after striking out during the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

There has been a lot of early chatter this offseason that the Los Angeles Dodgers may be looking to trade away All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.

He’s entering the last year of his contract, and Hernandez has shown some signs of regression at the plate in recent seasons, paired with poor defense; LA may want to give its top prospect Josue De Paula an everyday shot in left field in 2027, which could spell bad news for Teoscar.

Recently, in a trade rumors piece by BleacherReport.com, the Dodgers are predicted to trade Teoscar Hernandez to the Kansas City Royals.

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Teoscar Hernandez Featured in Dodgers-Royals Trade Idea

National League Championship Series: Milwaukee Brewers v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Four — GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out against Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers to end the eighth inning in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

BR.com writer Tim Kelly recently put together a handful of ‘unpopular’ trade ideas, and featured is a prediction of the Dodgers trading Teoscar Hernandez to the Royals:

“Where this might be unpopular with Dodgers fans is that to move Hernández’s contract—which includes one more guaranteed season at $17.34 million and a $15 million club option for 2028 with a $6.5 million buyout—Los Angeles is going to have to include some money. In a perfect world, Hernández—who posted minus-six defensive runs saved and minus-six outs above average in left field this past season—would go somewhere that he could primarily be a DH. Guess what? It’s not a perfect world.”

The pitch for the Royals is that they’ve had a really hard time getting production out of their outfielders in recent seasons, and although Hernandez’s production at the plate has slowed in recent seasons, he’d still be an upgrade to the Royals’ overall outfield group.

As of now, Teoscar Hernandez stands out as one of the Dodgers top trade candidates, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they want to offload his services, but the contract is a clear sticking point.

The flip side to that is, would a team like the Royals even want to take on Hernandez’s contract for just a season, especially if he’d be likely to just depart in free agency next season?

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Teoscar Hernandez with the Dodgers Lately

In 2026, across 125 games, Hernandez posted a bWAR of 1.0, with 16 home runs, 18 doubles, and an OPS+ of 108.

Hernandez will always have home run power, but his strikeouts have been the growing issue.

Since the start of 2025, Teoscar has 269 strikeouts in about 1,000 plate appearances, which is greater than a 25% rate.

While you take strikeouts if a player can hit for power, the defensive side of the ball may be the biggest issue in why the Dodgers don’t want to keep Teoscar. He gets off to poor jumps, and his range/arm strength just aren’t good.

It will be interesting to see if these offseason trade rumors strengthen, and if the Royals actually emerge as a suitor for the 3x All-Star.