Free agent utilityman Enrique Hernández is expected to sign within the next two to three days, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (X link). It isn’t clear how many teams remain in the market.
Hernández has drawn reported interest from the Angels this winter. The Halos are presumably one of multiple teams that has touched base with his camp. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal wrote last month that the Angels felt Hernández might prefer to stick with the Dodgers after finishing last season in L.A., although it’s unclear if the Dodgers have made any effort to bring him back.
The 10-year big league veteran split the 2023 campaign between Boston and Los Angeles. Hernández got off to a rough start with the Red Sox, hitting only .222/.279/.320 with six homers across 323 plate appearances. The Sox dealt Hernández to L.A. a week before the trade deadline. He had a better but hardly overwhelming offensive showing in his second stint as a Dodger. Hernández hit .262/.308/.423 over 185 trips to the plate.
After the season, Hernández underwent hernia surgery. That was a relatively minor procedure that isn’t expected to impact him in Spring Training. It’s possible the injury adversely impacted Hernández’s offensive production, but he has been a below-average hitter in four of the last five seasons. Since the start of 2019, he owns a .237/.305/.394 slash in more than 2100 plate appearances.
It remains to be seen if he’ll secure a big league contract for what’ll be his age-32 season. The market hasn’t looked kindly on a few rebound hitters this week. Amed Rosario and Gio Urshela settled for $1.5MM guarantees, while Tim Anderson landed a $5MM pact. Hernández has been a less productive hitter over the last couple seasons than anyone from that group. He has more defensive flexibility with the ability to play anywhere in the outfield, but the Sox’s efforts to make Hernández an everyday shortstop last year didn’t pan out.
Why can’t they sign someone who play very well at one position instead a mutiple utility players that cannot play well at any position?
aragon – Because with bloated 8-man bullpens there’s room on the roster for only 3 non-catcher bench players, which means having “versatile” multi-position players becomes a necessity.
It’s not like the old days when you had 5-6 relievers and 4-5 bench players.
How many infield multi -position players do you need in a team? Angels seem to have too many.
Who are the San Diego Padres, Alex?
aragon
“Why can’t they sign someone who play very well at one position instead a mutiple utility players that cannot play well at any position?”
Because trans only have a few bench spots available so those players need to be able to play multiple positions.
It’s always nice to be able to help someone who is new to the sport. Any more questions, just ask
“Trans”….we know what was on your mind. Lol,just playing, buddy.
Kike’s a class act that can benefit any team all around the diamond. Best of luck old friend!
Have fun with him at SS
He signed a ball for my nephew and plenty of other kids at Spring Training.
Signing for kids scores big points with me.
Being able to take a step to your right or left scores points with me.
74 OPS+ vs 111 OPS+
So the Boras four expect to sign in the coming weeks then?
With how bad the new Fanatics pants are I sorta figured he’d just retire
“I have always thought you were crazy, but now I can see your nuts.“
If there’s one thing he ain’t, it’s shy. Being able to show off the goods in the new pants probably redoubled his motivation to play.
He’s being fitted for a Halo as we speak
What role does Kike play on the Angels?
Starting shortstop is my guess. The current one can’t hit and has the spine of a 80 year old man. Neto will be DL’d within 2 weeks with “back spasms” which will last months.
Kike is not a starting SS, the Sox learned that all too well last season
If he is the starter at SS, then the Angels are in deeper trouble than I thought.
A guy technically capable of playing multiple positions = instant all around depth in Perry’s eyes.
“A guy technically capable of playing”….. Yeah. But then there’s that “technically” part that always seems to get in the way for Kike.
He’s the only middle infielder who has less range than Rengifo.
Rengifo has range in the 3rd percentile, Hernandez is in the 1 percentile.
Minassian’s type of player.
Actually, his range in 22 was pretty good.
I’ve gone from no to neutral.
@halo11fan they might just keep Soto on the roster, he’s pretty much stefanic, but can play shortstop.
@REX, The Angels don’t have a guy who can play second. But what good is Hernandez?
There is a lot of benefit to letting these guys fail. I just hope as an organization the Angels are smart enough to make the correct determination.
Bat Schanuel against LH pitchers. Give Moniak and Adell ABs, give Rengifo Reps at third. And if they fail, do something about it.
Rengifo can’t play second, but the Angels are not smart enough to do anything about it. I’m more afraid of that than anything else.
@ halo11fan agree, I would still have rengifo play second and Soto at 3rd and shortstop. It’s not the best but Soto grades out as a solid defender and contact hitter with no pop. Pretty much the same with stefanic, but he can only play 2nd and 3rd. They don’t have anyone that can play defense in the diamond besides Rendon, and neto. Schanuel was drafted as being a poor defender. Drury is passable at 2nd and 1st. I get your wait and see approach, but the infield is broken
Thank goodness Neto dropped in the draft. Huge piece.
Rendon needs to be good. But the long shot plan “B” is Rengifo. I keep going back to Figgins. Who would have thought that?
The Angels will need to find a second baseman in 2025, they may also need a third baseman.
They also could need a first baseman and RF. O’Hoppe has defensive issues, so who knows?
This is the year to find out what they need to do in 2025.
@halo11fan rengifo is not comparable to figgins, he’s probably closer to Rosario. I don’t see how Thaiss was graded as a better defender than O’hoppe, that’s why I take a lot of the analytics with a grain of salt. Also he played another week with the shoulder injury until he was shut down. Could’ve affected his performance. They have alot of holes. You can even say bullpen since everyone is gone after this year is a free agent besides Stephenson, Soriano, Joyce, Bachman.
I completely understand all your points.
Bullpen is always a work in progress. But I think Stephenson and Soriano are a good start.
Rengifo cannot play 3B, SS, 2B, RF or LF. DH him.
Angels have needed a 3rd baseman for 4 years & counting!
In 2020 Rendon led the Angels in WAR. Do you mean three years and counting? Facts matter.
Please stop signing scrubs
Who are the projected Dodger bench players that are deemed better replacements than Kike?
Bill Russell, Wes Parker
The Dodger bench is
Barnes at C
Taylot at multiple positions
Msrgot at all 3 OF spots
Rojas in the infield
Taylor is probably a better overall player then Kiké. Margot a better OF defender. Rojas a better SS and IF defender. Barnes a better C.
Kiké over Margot would make the most sense if the team wanted to bring Kiké in.
I remember that one stretch in the postseason for Boston when he hit like the wonder child of Willie Mays and Babe Ruth, but he wasn’t able to sustain that. Short sample sizes I guess.
Could be the Angels, could maybe be the Padres to play CF? Maybe the next Reds minor league contract…
Reds have absolutely no need for him whatsoever……which means they’ll probably sign him. Padres just need experienced bodies in the OF, so it could be them as well.
Minor league deal with the Dodgers. That love affair is mutual and seemingly beneficial.
This will be the one to open the flood gates. Hot stove bout to get burning now….
Properly deployed, he’s an asset. Great teammate and fun to root for. And post-season performer. (Which has no value to the Angels – yeah, I went there).
I have a proposal for the Angels. You take Margot in exchange for whatever amount of $ Kike signs with the Dodgers for.
Yeah, I’m just praying Glasnow outperforms Pepiot….
Hernandez’ forte is bench/util – always has been. Red Sox made him a starter which is all the proof you need.
Just sign Monty!;
Hernandez to the Giants might be so crazy it works. And by ‘works’ I mean they sign him, not that he performs well.
Maybe he’d have a job of his first name wasn’t an ethnic slur. I’m kidding. The accent mark is very important here.
Kike doesnt have an accent mark. And the spelling of his name that you do see has the accent on the second syllable, which is just incorrect.
The accent mark should not be there, it was added so he didn’t have to explain to everybody that his nickname is not an ethnic slur.
It’s not an ethnic slur. Kike is another way to say Quique, which comes from Enrique, which os hos real name. In Latin America is pretty common to have that nickname and the ethnic slur that you’re referring to does not exist.
The Dodgers have to pay like 110% luxury tax for anyone they sign going forward.
With Kemp leaving, I can see him on Oakland.
I could see Kike doing that figuring he gets to play and then will be flipped to a contender mid-season.
Blue Jays can use a RH bench bat to play outfield. Plus there are two injury-prone players in Kiermaier and Springer. Cards are looking for a backup shortstop. Jays can deal Espinal for a minor leaguer, save $2.75-mil and devote it to Kiki.
He’ll sign in stl
Kiké with an accent mark, everyone !
Without the accent mark, it s a derogatory term for a Jewish person.
True story. I noted that the TV broadcasts put the accent mark for Hernandez’s first name, and the name on the back of his old “Players’ Weekend” jersey
It’s not a derogatory term, it’s another way to spell Quique, which derives from Enrique, his real name. In PR that derogatory term does not exist.
Well, look up “kike” as you are not understanding why the accent mark is needed.
I understand the term pretty well, but the nickname comes from a Spanish name, which is completely different.
The accent mark in Spanish only indicates accent there when you call his name.
The accent mark is wrong and shouldnt be there. His name is pronounced KEE-kay not kee-KAY.