The Los Angeles Dodgers have spent the early stages of the offseason behaving like an empire strengthening its borders—signing stars, upgrading the bullpen, and projecting the calm confidence of a reigning champion. But beneath the surface, one storyline has quietly gained traction: they might be preparing to lose one of their biggest power threats.
Teoscar Hernández, the Dodgers’ primary right fielder and one of their most dangerous right-handed hitters, has surfaced as a real trade candidate. And the Kansas City Royals—a team aggressively trying to address its outfield shortcomings—have positioned themselves as a serious suitor.
Royals Swing Big for the Power Bat They’ve Been Missing
Kansas City’s pursuit of outfield help has bordered on relentless. After missing out on bringing back Mike Yastrzemski, the Royals shifted immediately to bigger targets. The Athletic’s Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya reported that Kansas City holds strong interest in Hernández, whose name has circulated in trade talks despite Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes insisting a deal “doesn’t seem likely.”
The Royals’ intentions are obvious: they want an impact bat. Their outfield ranked among the weakest in baseball last season, with center fielders posting a .645 OPS, the highest mark among their three outfield spots. The team finished bottom five in both runs scored and home runs. Jac Caglianone, Kyle Isbel, and John Rave project as their Opening Day outfield if the season started today, a mix built on promise, not production.
Hernández, even in a down year, still hit league-average and remains a 30-homer threat. His presence behind Salvador Perez would radically change the feel of Kansas City’s lineup. And with Picollo openly saying he’d trade a pitcher for an outfielder, the Royals have the chips to make an intriguing offer.
This isn’t the first time Kansas City has tried to add power—they’ve pursued Jarren Duran, Anthony Santander, Jurickson Profar, Harrison Bader, and Austin Hays—but Hernández represents the highest ceiling of the bunch. He gives them something they haven’t had in years: a true middle-order bat with postseason experience.
Why the Dodgers Might Actually Entertain a Deal
If Hernández were simply a slugger on the decline, the Dodgers wouldn’t hesitate to move him. But this situation is more nuanced.
He remains productive, but his defensive regression has become a glaring issue. Statcast credits him with -19 Outs Above Average over the last two seasons, a steep drop that has limited his versatility and forced LA to compensate elsewhere on the field. For a franchise that values flexibility and defense as much as power, that matters.
Hernández is also entering the second season of a three-year, $66 million contract—manageable money, but movable money if the Dodgers want to redirect resources toward pitching depth or a more dynamic defender. And with their perpetual ability to attract talent, Los Angeles can replace power more easily than most teams.
If Kansas City dangles a young starter—the exact type Picollo has hinted he’s willing to move—this trade transforms from unlikely to logical.
In the end, this is one of those Winter Meetings plot twists that sneak up on the league. A small-market club starving for offense sees its opportunity. A powerhouse club sees a chance to recalibrate its roster. And suddenly one of the Dodgers’ biggest bats could be heading to the AL Central.
