Teoscar Hernández
Finally, we have one of the current postseason heroes, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández. The Dodgers signed the 32-year-old slugger to a one-year, $23.5 million contract after he spent a season with the Seattle Mariners in 2023. Los Angeles was looking to add some extra thump to their lineup to help complement the likes of the power-hitting Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
Boy, has their investment paid huge dividends for them this past season. Hernández ended up ranking second on the team behind only Ohtani in terms of runs scored, hits, home runs, RBI and total bases. In total, Hernández amassed a solid .272 batting average, .840 OPS and 137 OPS, with 84 runs scored, 32 doubles, 33 home runs, 99 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 154 games. He was also clutch with runners in scoring position, with 11 of his home runs and 71 of his RBI coming in such situations, batting at a .288 clip with a .943 OPS.
Not only has Hernández been a force during the regular season, but he carried his strong play into the 2024 MLB playoffs, helping the Dodgers ultimately win the World Series. In 16 playoff games, he posted a .769 OPS with eight runs scored, three home runs and 12 RBI while showing better-than-normal plate discipline with 10 walks and 15 strikeouts.
Before knocking in two runs to tie Game 5 of the World Series, his biggest hit during the playoffs came during the NLDS against the Padres. He provided the insurance marker by belting a home run in the seventh inning of Game 4 to help secure the come-from-behind series victory for the Dodgers.
For a Phillies team looking for a proven difference-maker in the biggest moments of the game, Hernández certainly showed that he is more than capable of doing so throughout the 2024 season. Added to the fact that he has produced at least 25 home runs and 77 RBI in each of his past four seasons, he represents the most consistent and successful run producer of all of the candidates on this list.
So if the Phillies don’t want to gamble with other free agents on potential health issues or potential variability in their production from season to season based on their recent track records, Hernández should be the safest bet of all of the backup options available.