"Could’ve gotten $5,000,000 more" - Teoscar Hernández makes his feelings known about prioritizing Dodgers loyalty over big paychecks

The Los Angeles Dodgers brought back Teoscar Hernández after tying him up to a three-year, $66 million contract this Friday.

The outfielder said rejoining the team was his ideal motive when he became a free agent at the end of last season. Hernández said he could have waited out and earned a larger deal from a different team but wanted to come back to the Dodgers out of his love and loyalty for the franchise.

Teoscar Hernández had joined the Los Angeles Dodgers for a one-year, $23.5 million contract at the start of the 2024 campaign. He earned an All-Star Game call-up as well as a Silver Slugger award for his exploits in the regular season. Hernández also played a crucial role for his team in the postseason to help the Dodgers win the World Series.

On Saturday, the Dodgers officially unveiled Teoscar Hernández following his new contract with the team. During the press conference, he clarified that coming back to the Dodgers was at the top of his list this off-season.

"I made that clear before I went there, " he said. "The Dodgers were the priority and I was going to do everything I can in my power to come back. For me, money wasn’t an issue. I could’ve gotten five or six more mil from other teams, but if you put me in a place where I had to decide, I would decide to come back because of the way this organization is."

Under the current contract, Teoscar Hernández will receive a $22 million annual salary, which is lower than what the Dodgers paid him last year.

"They care about everybody": Teoscar Hernández on why he chose to rejoin the Dodgers

Teoscar Hernández produced 33 home runs and 99 RBIs for the Dodgers last season (Image Source: Imagn)

Teoscar Hernández said that coming back to the Los Angeles Dodgers was his top priority because of the manner in which the franchise takes care of its players.

"They are different," Hernández said. "They think about everybody. Not only the players. Not only the things that I can do on the field. And for me it's just [that] they give me the confidence. I never got that in other places that I worked.

"They trusted everything that I can give them to this team and this organization," he added. "And that was the biggest thing for me to push me to do the best job I can do in a Dodgers uniform."

The Dodgers offered Hernández a $21.05 qualifying offer at the end of the 2024 season, which he had rejected before heading into free agency.