The Los Angeles Angels have kept their cards close to their chest when it comes to offseason planning for the 2024 season. With plenty of free agents still on the board, the Halos haven’t needed to act hastily in any direction, choosing instead to let the market dictate itself on players like utilityman Kiké Hernández.
Hernández — a 10-year MLB veteran — is most known for his time with the L.A. Dodgers. He was with the cross-town rivals from 2015-2020, and then again in 2023, and played a significant role in the team’s World Series run in 2020. His value in today’s game is his versatility, as he can be placed at just about every position on the field.
It’s for these reasons that the Angels, reportedly, have looked into signing Hernández as they try and fill out the remainder of their 2024 roster, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
One free agent they’re considering, according to sources briefed on their discussions: Kiké Hernández, who made 11 starts at third after getting traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Dodgers last season and has played every position but catcher during his 10-year career.
Due to general manager Perry Minasian’s rule about discussing individual players, there is no confirming how real the Angels’ interest is in Hernández. But he would make plenty of sense for an Angels team that is in desperate need of depth.
In 185 plate appearances with the Dodgers last season, Hernández posted a slash line of .262/.308/.423 with a .731 OPS. He batted in 30 runs with five homers while striking out only 15.7% of the time. With injury prone players like Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon atop the Angels lineup, they could use a player like Hernández who could fill in at any slot at a moment’s notice.
Angels reluctant to enter DH market
Another reason why signing Hernández could be a benefit for the Angels is that it allows them to keep their designated hitter slot available. One thing that the Angels have wanted to do this offseason is allow for flexibility with their DH after years of the position solely belonging to Shohei Ohtani.
This way, players like Rendon and Trout can spend some time at the DH in an effort to preserve their bodies through a 162-game season. The Angels have shown a reluctance to sign a legitimate DH, and their interest in Hernández — a defensive utilityman — speaks to that hesitancy on Minasian’s behalf.