![\"Why](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/cfe7615\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3051x2034+0+0\/resize\/1200x800!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F0c%2F0542cf9f449d9df724750d7c0c15%2F1480073-1020-sp-nlcs-dodgers-mets-game6-wjs-026.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Los Angeles Dodgers finally re-signed Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez last week, but many wondered why it took so long.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There was no question of production from the first year Dodger when it came to contract negotiations. Hern\u00e1ndez put up some of the best numbers of his career in 2024 including a career-best in WAR (4.3), home runs (33), and earning not just his first Home Run Derby championship, but becoming the first Dodger to do so.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old only emphasized how valuable he is in the 2024 postseason. With three home runs in October \u2014 including a solo shot in the World Series to help secure the Game 2 victory \u2014 an impressive 12 RBIs, and batting .250\/.352\/.417, he instantly solidified his legacy with Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Since hoisting their eighth World Series trophy, fans kept asking the same question regarding Hern\u00e1ndez\u2019s contract: What\u2019s taking so long?<\/p>\n
In an interview with Grandes en los Deportes translated from Spanish, Hern\u00e1ndez spoke on why the deal wasn\u2019t done sooner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, so much so that closing a deal with the Dodgers was more about how the contract would be structured. From the beginning, both sides were clear about what I wanted, and I was clear about what I was looking for,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were trying to structure it in the best way to convince me. I\u2019m one of those people who obviously wanted to get my money, get a contract for at least three years, but I don\u2019t give much importance to money. I could\u2019ve still been in free agency, waiting for teams with more need for me to make an offer, but as I\u2019ve always said, money is not the most important thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was simply waiting for them to structure the contract in the best way, so at the end of the day, I could take home a bit more because of the tax situation in California.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t just the front office and the fans that wanted Hern\u00e1ndez back. Manager Dave Roberts was asked about potentially moving forward without the outfielder and said, \u201cit would be tough.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cObviously I\u2019m a huge fan of Teo. We have a great relationship. His words, he loved everything about being a Dodger, and I\u2019m always going to be a Teo fan.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Luckily for Roberts, Los Angeles, and its fans, Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez is back wearing Dodger blue for the next three seasons, and potentially a fourth with a club option.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Los Angeles Dodgers finally re-signed Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez last week, but many wondered why it took so long. There was no question of production from the first… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22760,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n