Top 10 Landing Spots for Mariners OF Teoscar Hernández in MLB Free Agency

With the Seattle Mariners deciding not to extend the qualifying offer to Teoscar Hernández, the outfielder is available to sign anywhere for the first time since joining the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 2011.

The two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and one-time All-Star is coming off arguably his worst major league season since his first one in 2016, but it was still good enough for 26 home runs and 93 RBI. Somewhat surprisingly, he still ranks as one of the top outfielders on the free-agent market.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted in October that Hernández would play under the qualifying offer, but the Mariners had other ideas.

Considering all of this, it's useful to take a look at his worth and where Hernández fits best.

The Toronto Blue Jays decided early they would not pay Hernández in free agency, electing to trade him to the Mariners ahead of his final arbitration-eligible year.

Hernández played for $14 million in 2023 after playing for $10.65 million in his final year with the Blue Jays.

Now, he is projected by Spotrac to be the second-most valuable position player on the free-agent market for 2024, just behind Cody Bellinger. The qualifying offer with Seattle would have paid Hernández about $20.5 million this upcoming season, but that's just under his projected average annual value of about $21.6 million.

At his age, a deal for more than six years is unlikely. A contract around the three- to five-year range seems more reasonable, and it would probably pay around $20-22 million per year.

Seattle Mariners

Even with his numbers slightly down from 2022 to 2023, the Mariners should still be considering a reunion with Hernández. They could just turn to Jarred Kelenic to fill the void, but it seems like a much better option to have them both in the corner outfield spots around star center fielder Julio Rodríguez.

Hernández is able to test the market, but Seattle is also able to see where it fits in terms of what that market dictates.

The Mariners had an average to slightly above average offense last year and Hernández was a big part of it. It's easy to imagine them taking a step back if they let Hernández go without finding a suitable replacement.

New York Yankees

Getting outfield help should be a high priority for the Yankees. The overall outfield production was decent, but that's because they employ Aaron Judge.

In left field, where Hernández would presumably play as a Yankee, it's the worst production you will find in baseball. The Yankees ranked last in fWAR at the left field position, which is something they have been talking about upgrading since last offseason.

This seems like a good opportunity to do it, and Hernández comes at a reasonable cost considering how glaring the need is in the Bronx.

There is already a solid option in right field for the Red Sox in Alex Verdugo. In the other corner outfield spot are Wilyer Abreu and Masatak Yoshida, who struggled down the stretch in his rookie season.

The argument for Hernández is simple. You put a slugger in a Boston lineup that ranked 18th in home runs and 11th in RBI. Competing in the AL East is treacherous each season, so it is necessary to retool, especially after you finish last as the only team in the division with a losing record.

Bringing in Hernández would mean a logjam of sorts in the corner outfield and DH spots, but he's an upgrade over each incumbent.

Red Sox outfielders tied for the 12th highest fWAR, which would likely improve with an impact bat like Hernández's in the mix.

Also, Verdugo is entering his final arbitration-eligible year and due to become a free agent next offseason. Trading Verdugo and signing Hernández should be on the table.

The Dodgers do not need a right fielder—they have one of the game's best in Mookie Betts. They could, however, use another right-handed hitting corner outfielder who can provide some thump in the middle of the lineup.

They are also in the market for a designated hitter, with veteran JD Martinez a free agent again this offseason. Bringing in Hernández would be similar to signing Martinez the previous offseason, except he would not have to exclusively DH and at the very least could provide outfield depth.

Remember, Betts is the Dodgers' most versatile defensive player, so it would be nice for them to have someone like Hernández to fill the void in right field when Betts is elsewhere around the diamond providing relief.

The Dodgers need to address pitching more than anything, but Hernández is an affordable option to fill an everyday need, especially if they whiff on Shohei Ohtani.

Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reported Hernández is on the Dodgers' radar.

Hernández is not the ideal candidate for Atlanta to fill its void in left field, but the possibility has to be considered. Atlanta let Eddie Rosario walk, and the outfield free-agent class is not exactly deep...or young.

At age 31, Hernández is a younger option than Michael Brantley (37), Tommy Pham and David Peralta (both 36), or bringing back their own in Adam Duvall (35).

Atlanta already has a top-six payroll in baseball going into 2024, having locked in so many of its young stars. One of the older outfielder options might make more sense for the short term, but Hernández offers a dynamic middle-of-the-order caliber bat on a squad full of them.

A move like this could turn what is already a regular-season front-runner into a cheat code. Atlanta's outfield ranked third in fWAR, but was carried by NL MVP Ronald Acuña in right field. In left field, Atlanta ranked 19th in fWAR.

The main reason for the Yankees not being higher on this list is their reported interest in trading for Juan Soto.

SNY's Andy Martino reports the two sides are exchanging names of players, but the two sides are not close on an agreement.

That it would reach this point shows not only the Yankees' interest in Soto, but also the Padres' willingness to move on from the ambitious experiment after spending big on Xander Bogaerts and extending Manny Machado.

So if the Padres are really trading Soto, it only makes sense for them to be interested in a cheaper replacement who can still hit 20 or more home runs in a season.

That's what Hernández represents for San Diego, which Jim Bowden of The Athletic identified as one of the best fits.

The Padres could be in the market for a Soto replacement. But they also need a designated hitter, and Hernández could fill either need—or both.

It is well understood at this point that the main thing holding back the Brewers is their lack of offensive firepower.

The Brewers get production from their corner outfield spots, ranking top-10 in fWAR in right field and top-five in left field.

But as a team, they ranked 23rd in OPS, 24th in home runs and 25th in slugging. To their credit, the Brewers still managed to rank 17th in runs scored, despite meager offensive numbers.

Hernández would provide a much-needed boost, as someone who can drive in runs for a team that struggles to do so at an elite level.

Sal Frelick, a first-round pick by the Brewers in 2021, is expected to start in right field. Frelick was decent in a limited sample size this past season with a 91 OPS+, but he's a far cry from Hernández at the moment.

The Giants were among a handful of teams reportedly interested in acquiring Hernández ahead of last year's trade deadline. They have seemingly been looking for a right fielder since whiffing at Aaron Judge in free agency a year ago.

San Francisco's outfield struggles were evident in finishing tied for the fifth-worst fWAR across baseball. Relying on Mitch Haniger to stay healthy is a dangerous proposition for a team that is looking to compete, especially after watching NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks go to the World Series.

Hernández is a better option in right field than Haniger and at designated hitter than Wilmer Flores.

The Giants are trying to pick themselves up after failing to reach the postseason. If they are going to catch up with the Dodgers and D-backs, it starts with upgrading the talent on the roster.

The Marlins are in an interesting position this offseason with their surprise front-office change with general manager Kim Ng stepping down from the position. They also need to replace the production of former World Series MVP Jorge Soler, who opted out of his contract to become a free agent.

It's easy to see them taking a step back from their postseason appearance because of both the front office turnover and the loss of their most potent bat, yet signing Hernández could soften the blow.

Soler was more of the Marlins' DH, appearing there 102 times with just 32 appearances in right field. Miami's projected right fielder for 2024 is Jesús Sánchez, a decent enough player who slashed .253/.327/.450 with 14 home runs in 360 at-bats last season.

Hernández is an obvious upgrade at the position, while Sánchez could make sense as a trade chip to acquire a much-needed shortstop.

Every team should be in the market for a good power bat, but especially the Angels if they are going to lose Shohei Ohtani.

The Angels, despite being a perennial disappointment, put up decent power numbers last year. They had the fourth-most home runs in baseball and ranked eighth in slugging.

But they also had Ohtani, who hit 44 home runs and slugged an MLB leading .654. Replacing that kind of production might not be possible, yet the Angels should be trying to get as close to it as they can.

Specifically in right field, there is an obvious hole. Only two teams had a lower fWAR in right field than the Angels and absent of signing someone like Hernández, or an unexpected trade, there is no solution on the horizon.

Mickey Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016, has struggled to stay healthy so far in his big-league career. Certainly the talent is there, but it's nothing quite as reliable as Hernández's production over the past four years.

No one would confuse the Guardians for big spenders, but they do have some history of handing out a contract in line with what Hernández might get in free agency.

Back in 2017, they signed Edwin Encarnación to a three-year, $60 million deal, which looks awfully close to what Hernández would command, plus an extra year more than likely. Last year, Cleveland signed Josh Bell to a two-year, $33 million contract before dealing him away at the trade deadline.

Both of those players are first basemen/designated hitters, while Hernández would play in right field—where he is sorely needed—and DH.

Last season, Cleveland was just one of two teams with a negative fWAR in right field, so the organization has to be looking for solutions.

The right field problem for the White Sox is not just a 2023 thing. They've had years of ineptitude at that position, and it has to end at some point.

Right field production was at its worst in the AL Central, with the Guardians and White Sox both having the only two negative fWAR at the position.

But it's been like this going back to the 2020 season. Since then, the White Sox have an MLB-worst -3.4 fWAR. Only the Pittsburgh Pirates are worse in wRC+ in that time span, and last year the White Sox posted an embarrassingly low 53 wRC+ in right field, easily the worst in baseball.

Insert Hernández, and it finally would look like they are taking the position seriously. This is a big offseason for the White Sox considering they just fired vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn. Manager Pedro Grifol was underwhelming in his first season taking over as skipper for Tony La Russa.

Finally addressing such an obvious need in right field would at least show White Sox fans that this organization can get something right and new GM Chris Getz will make his first big move with the roster.