Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that free-agent utility man Enrique Hernandez is choosing between the Giants, Angels, Twins, and Padres. This information follows a story on Friday that Hernandez was almost ready to make a choice.
Hernandez, 32, began the 2024 season as the Red Sox’s starting shortstop, but he had trouble in the glove and at the plate. The team sent Hernandez to the Dodgers for the final stretch of the season after he hit.222/.279/.320 in 323 at-bats with Boston in the first half of the campaign. Hernandez, who had already spent six seasons playing in Los Angeles before accepting a free agent contract with Boston prior to the 2021 season, was returning home to the Dodgers, where he found some success in a bench position. Hernandez, who alternated between all positions on the diamond save for catcher, blasted a nearly league-average.262/.308/.423 during the final stretch in Los Angeles.
Because of his versatility and career.801 OPS versus left-handed pitching, the veteran has primarily been used as a bench bat, filling in all over the field and frequently getting reps against southpaws. Nevertheless, Hernandez usually contributes offence that is just marginally over average. Hernandez’s lifetime slash line since joining the Dodgers prior to the 2015 season is.239/.310/.408, which translates to a wRC+ of 93. Hernandez has usually struggled to earn a full-time position due to his lack of offensive prowess; in 2023, he only managed 500 plate appearances in a season, even though he was often playing in 130 or more games for his team.
Given their prior stated interest in the 32-year-old Hernandez, the Angels are arguably the least surprised of the teams vying for his services. Hernandez’s services would be of interest to the Halos, and it makes sense. Although the team’s starting lineup features a number of intriguing players to support superstar Mike Trout, there isn’t much certainty in it. Both Trout and former star slugger Anthony Rendon have struggled with injuries in recent years, which has kept them off the field most of the time. Meanwhile, exciting young players like Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto have potential but are not a lock to contribute in the majors after brief stints in the minor leagues.
Because of his versatility, Hernandez could replace almost any player in the Anaheim lineup in the event of an injury or poor play. Additionally, the DH position left vacant by Shohei Ohtani’s departure may give Hernandez a route to semi-regular at-bats even if the team’s starting lineup is able to stay healthy and productive. The 26-year-old infielder Luis Rengifo, who looks set to open the season as the team’s second baseman but played at six different positions in 2023, may receive more consistency from the team thanks to Hernandez’s versatility.
Hernandez’s other three potential employers were not previously associated with the veteran in the public eye. Nevertheless, there’s a good chance that any of these would work well for the utility man. With just Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jose Azocar on their 40-man roster going into the spring, the Padres, in particular, are obviously in need of outfield depth. Since then, they have added Jurickson Profar to a big league contract, and non-roster invitees like Oscar Mercado are trying to make a spring training roster. However, Hernandez would provide the team with a reliable, experienced presence off the bench who can play all three outfield positions, relieving some of the pressure on prospects like Jakob Marsee and Jackson Merrill to demonstrate that they are ready for regular big league action.
Hernandez’s roster fit in Minnesota and San Francisco is less evident because both teams currently have a full roster of players at various positions. Having said that, Hernandez’s presence could give the Giants some veteran stability at shortstop in the event that rookie Marco Luciano struggles. Additionally, Hernandez’s right-handed bat could be a valuable addition to an outfield that already features three left-handed regulars in Michael Conforto, Jung Hoo Lee, and Mike Yastrzemski.
Meanwhile, the Twins feature a number of youthful left-handed hitters in their lineup, including Matt Wallner, Alex Kirilloff, and Edouard Julien. Incorporating Hernandez into the team’s positional mix would provide them with a right-handed bat to go along with those young players and a solid backup in centre field in the event that frequently injured star Byron Buxton had to return to the sidelines this season. Buxton is not the only member of the Twins’ team who has had trouble with injuries lately; Carlos Correa, Kirilloff, and Royce Lewis also had trouble with injuries during the previous campaign. Although it may be difficult for Minnesota to accommodate
Hernandez on their current roster, the team may try to make room by trading Kyle Farmer, another utility player, or even just optioning Jose Miranda, who was expected to start the season at Triple-A as a right-handed bat off the club’s bench.
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