It looks like the Boston Red Sox have a backup plan in place if they don’t come out on top in the Juan Soto derby.
The Red Sox have been linked to Teoscar Hernández since the offseason started and they are keeping their name in the race for the slugging outfielder.
“Red Sox remain in on Teoscar Hernández but face stiff competition from Dodgers and Yankees, per source,” MassLive’s Chris Cotillo posted on the X platform Saturday night.
Cotillo also noted that the market for Hernández is expected to “heat up once Soto signs.”
Hernández wouldn’t be a terrible consolation prize if the Red Sox don’t end up signing Soto. The two-time All-Star would be a much cheaper option and comes off a season with the Dodgers in which he hit a career-high 33 home runs to go along with 99 RBIs and a .272 batting average.
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The 32-year-old feels like a logical replacement for Tyler O’Neill, who reportedly agreed to a deal Saturday to join the Baltimore Orioles. Hernández has been terrific in his career at Fenway Park, batting .282 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs in 44 games.
Boston’s pursuit of Hernández likely will depend on what ends up happening with Soto — he’s expected to make a decision in a day or two — but the longer they wait on Hernández, the tougher it may be to sign him.