After committing his future to the Los Angeles Dodgers for another season, outfielder Kiké Hernández disclosed that he had received interest from another major team.
During an appearance on the Foul Territory podcast, Hernández revealed that he had turned down an offer from the New York Yankees in favor of staying on the West Coast.
“It came down to @Dodgers or @Yankees,” Hernández shared, shedding light on the teams vying for his services during free agency and explaining his decision to stick with Los Angeles rather than relocating to The Bronx.
The Dodgers secured Hernández with a one-year, $4 million deal on Monday, concurrently trading outfielder Manuel Margot to the Minnesota Twins along with prospect Rayne Doncon, in exchange for prospect Noah Miller.
Explaining his choice, Hernández emphasized his comfort in remaining in a familiar environment, particularly given his late arrival to spring training.
"It came down to @Dodgers or @Yankees"@kikehndez reveals the teams that bid on him during free agency and breaks down why he chose to stay with in LA, rather than relocate to The Bronx.
▶️ https://t.co/Bq4eQzPtsX pic.twitter.com/ThxFmOF8X2
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 29, 2024
“I chose the Dodgers because they have a lot of left-handed hitters. Obviously, I have familiarity. I was already late to spring, so I didn’t have to pack my bags and fly to Florida and all that and then move my family across the country. Dodgers being here in Arizona was convenient,” Hernández articulated.
Beyond the logistical convenience of staying with Los Angeles, Hernández highlighted the opportunity for increased playing time compared to what he would have received in New York.
“The main reason was they were able to guarantee me to start at least against left-handed pitchers to start the year, and from there on, anything can happen,” he explained. “The Yankees have a really good lineup as well, just like the Dodgers, but they have a lot of right-handed hitters, and their lefties are not platoon guys.”
In the 2023 season, Hernández featured in 54 games for the Dodgers following a trade from the Boston Red Sox, batting .262 with five home runs and 30 RBIs.
