Teoscar Hernández wanted to stay with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers wanted to keep Teoscar Hernández.
As the sides grinded through a weeks-long negotiation for the free-agent outfielder this offseason, those truths never wavered.
And on Friday, those desires finally came to fruition, with Hernández agreeing to re-sign with the Dodgers on a three-year, $66-million deal, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation who weren’t authorized to speak publicly, that will bring back one of the most popular, productive and important players from last season’s World Series team.
The deal, which also includes a $15-million option for a fourth season, serves as the latest move in the Dodgers’ offseason, as they try to defend their championship in 2025.
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Retaining Hernández was one of the biggest tasks the Dodgers faced this offseason. The 32-year-old slugger batted .272 last season with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs, earning his second All-Star selection after signing a one-year, $23.5-million deal the previous offseason.
He delivered some of the most important hits of the Dodgers’ triumphant trek through the postseason, including a key home run in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and the score-tying double in the Dodgers’ comeback win over the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series.
Although the Dodgers never engaged Hernández’s camp in contract talks during the season, the Dominican star repeatedly voiced his desire to stay in Los Angeles after the season. During the Dodgers’ championship rally, he got choked up with emotion while addressing the crowd.
The question was whether Hernández and the Dodgers could come together on a more lucrative, long-term deal — the kind that failed to materialize for Hernández last winter, prompting him to sign his one-year deal with the Dodgers last year and rebuild his stock with a resurgent 2024.
“The Dodgers are the priority obviously,” Hernández said after the championship parade last month. “I’m going to do everything in my power to come back.”
Conversations between the Dodgers and Hernández’s camp began early in the offseason, but…