Teoscar Hernandez reveals how close he was to signing with the Toronto Blue Jays this off season
Photo credit: https://x.com/thehazelmae/
The Toronto Blue Jays and Teoscar Hernandez remained in contact long after the trade with the Seattle Mariners or the free agent signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Blue Jays had an extremely tough series against the Dodgers this weekend but thankfully were able to walk away with a win yesterday thanks to rookie left-handed reliever Mason Fluharty.
The weekend series between his Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays meant reunion time for Teoscar Hernandez and some old friends.
There was playful banter with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, a quick hug with Bo Bichette on a changeover between innings, a meeting with players and staff behind the batting cage during batting practice and a first-hand look at a team he's kept tabs on from a distance.
«I always watch their games because of Vladdy, Bo, (George) Springer and all the guys I played with when I was there,» Hernandez said during an interview in the Dodgers dugout. «I always am going to wish the best for everybody. Hopefully they can keep going the way they're going right now. Hopefully we can meet in the World Series. That would be awesome. They're playing really good baseball, playing hard and doing the little things in clutch moments. They put together a really good team beside the big names Vladdy, Bo and Springer, put the right pieces together, and that's why they're having success.»
Teoscar Hernandez reveals how close he was to re-signing with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason
Hernandez talked with Sportsnet over the weekend and mentioned how he was actually very close to coming back to Toronto in free agency, but that the team said it would only work if they could make a particular move which ended up falling through.
«We actually came really close to a reunion so I can come back to Toronto,» said Hernandez. «They were trying to do a couple of things, I'm not going to say what, but they were trying to do a couple things first. And they said if this worked out, we can get together, we can sit down and talk about a contract. So, yes, it was really close.»
Given his friendship with Guerrero and the timeline of the first baseman's discussions with the Blue Jays, it's logical that Hernandez wanted the club to extend its cornerstone before signing with them.
As those discussions dragged on, Hernandez returned to the Dodgers at the start of January for $66 million over three years, a contract that also includes a $15 million club option for 2028.
Guerrero's $500-million, 14-year extension didn't get done until April 7, a foundational deal that should help the Blue Jays when they talk to free agents this winter.
Throughout that lengthy negotiation, Hernandez said he stayed in touch with Guerrero, offering both his support and his encouragement to stay put in Toronto.
He gave Vladimir Guerrero Jr some valuable advice on what to think about when making a decision on signing in Toronto.
«If you feel good over there, you have your whole life there, your family, you have everything in that city and that country, so try to make it work.»
| POLL | ||
AOUT 11 | 214 ANSWERS Teoscar Hernandez reveals how close he was to signing with the Toronto Blue Jays this off season Do you think the acquisition of Teosocar Hernandez this winter would have helped the Blue Jays this season? | ||
| Yes | 149 | 69.6 % |
| No | 65 | 30.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
