The Los Angeles Dodgers head into 2026 balancing star power, defensive shakeups, and a few injury headaches. Still, leadership isn’t wavering on two big things: Teoscar Hernández is staying put, and Mookie Betts is locked in as the everyday shortstop.
Rumors keep swirling and roles keep shifting, but the Dodgers seem pretty confident in their core. They’re also hoping Tommy Edman bounces back healthy and ready to contribute.
Dodgers Shut Down Teoscar Hernández Trade Rumors
This offseason, speculation about Teoscar Hernández’s future hit a fever pitch. Manager Dave Roberts and GM Brandon Gomes both squashed it, saying the veteran outfielder is unlikely to be traded.
Production Dip, But Power Still Intact
Hernández heads into year two of a three-year, $66 million deal. His 2025 stats—.247/.284/.454 with 25 home runs and a league-average wRC+—weren’t his best, but he still brought real value to the lineup.
He’s still a real power threat. The on-base percentage isn’t great, but his pop and experience in big moments are exactly why the Dodgers don’t want to move on after one off year.
Defensive Concerns and the DH Dilemma
Defense is where things get murky with Hernández. Statcast’s Outs Above Average gave him a rough ride: -10 OAA in 2024 and -9 OAA in 2025, which isn’t exactly what you want in right field.
Dave Roberts, though, keeps saying Hernández is at least “average” out there, focusing more on his positioning and reads than the numbers. The debate keeps going:
The problem? The Dodgers already have their DH spot filled. So they’re basically betting Hernández’s bat will outweigh his glove in right field for at least another year.
Mookie Betts Cemented as Full-Time Shortstop
With Hernández’s role up for debate, Mookie Betts’s isn’t. The six-time Gold Glove outfielder is now, without question, the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop.
That experiment? It’s over. Betts is the guy.
From Gold Glove Outfielder to Elite Shortstop
Betts started 148 games at shortstop in 2025 and didn’t just hang in there—he thrived. Defensive metrics backed him up: he posted a stellar +17 Defensive Runs Saved at short, which would be impressive for anyone, never mind a converted outfielder.
This move started as a creative fix but turned into a long-term plan. Betts brings:
Having Betts locked in at shortstop also makes the rest of the roster easier to figure out. And with Hernández in right, the Dodgers can focus on filling in the other gaps.
Tommy Edman’s Health and Role Heading Into 2026
Tommy Edman’s status is another big piece of the Dodgers’ puzzle. His versatility and speed were supposed to be huge assets, but injuries have told a different story so far in L.A.
Injury Issues and Offensive Slide
Edman just had a debridement procedure on his ankle, basically a clean-up surgery to fix lingering issues. The team expects he’ll be limited for the early part of Spring Training, but it shouldn’t keep him out once the regular season starts.
That ankle is just the latest in a string of setbacks. In 2025, he dealt with:
The result? A career-worst offensive season: 81 wRC+ over just 97 games, way below average and far from the spark plug he was in St. Louis.
Declining Speed but Postseason Trust
The biggest drop-off might be in his running game. After swiping 25-plus bases each of his last three years with the Cardinals, Edman has just nine steals in two years with the Dodgers. For a guy who relies on speed, that’s a huge change.
Still, the Dodgers clearly trust him. Even with all the injuries and offensive struggles, Edman started every postseason game for L.A. in 2025—mostly at second base and some in center field. That says a lot about how much they value his defense and baseball smarts in big moments.
What It All Means for the Dodgers in 2026
Put together, these storylines show how the Dodgers view themselves heading into 2026.
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers Notes: Hernandez, Betts, Edman
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