Utilityman Kiké Hernández disclosed on Foul Territory that he had seriously contemplated a contract with the New York Yankees in addition to signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hernandez, who will turn 32 this season, has played for the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Of them, his tenure in Dodger blue is the most noteworthy, as it includes a World Series championship in 2020. With his glove and mobility, he has added a great deal of value, even though the bat hasn’t been there in the last two seasons.
He was traded by the Boston Red Sox before the previous trade deadline, and the Dodgers signed him right away after dealing Manuel Margot to the Minnesota Twins. It shows an intriguing way of thinking about the Yankees.
Although Kiké Hernández does not have much offensive potential, he is a versatile and experienced infield player who has played every position in Major League Baseball save catcher. The right-handed hitting infielder ultimately decided to return to the Dodgers, which would have given the Yankees extra insurance in their lineup and reserve. Given that he has spent the most of his career and had some of his best seasons there, it seemed inevitable that he would return to Los Angeles following the 2018 season.
Although the Yankees’ alleged lack of interest in Hernandez makes this an intriguing revelation, we have known for weeks that they are interested in adding an experienced infielder to their depth. Gio Urshela ultimately inked a one-year $1.5 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, but the Yankees were still interested in getting him back together. Tony Kemp was another player they expressed interest in, but he ultimately agreed to sign a Minor League deal with the Cincinnati Reds. It will be fascinating to see if they decide to stick with Oswald Peraza as their current utilityman or switch to another one.
