Toronto Blue Jays rumoured to be open to reunion with Teoscar Hernández

After finishing at the bottom of the league in runs scored this season, the first order of business for the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason will likely be finding an offensive bat.

Of course, there are plenty of options in free agency, such as Jazz Chisholm Jr., Brandon Lowe, Seiya Suzuki, and Japanese outfielder Teruaki Sato, but if the Blue Jays miss out on any of those top targets, they might lean toward the trade market instead.

A familiar face to Blue Jays fans is rumoured to be one potential option.

Toronto has reportedly contacted the Los Angeles Dodgers to inquire about a possible reunion with outfielder Teoscar Hernández, according to Dodgers beat reporter Pat Ragazzo.

Within, the Blue Jays had some level of interest in bringing back Teoscar Hernandez after missing out on Kyle Tucker last offseason, a source told FanSided More: https://t.co/I4YefT2u1q

— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) October 28, 2026

Ragazzo reported a source told him that Toronto has shown interest in bringing Hernández back after the Blue Jays missed out on Kyle Tucker sweepstakes last offseason.

The 34-year-old could be an intriguing option for the Blue Jays, particularly given his current contract situation. Hernández is owed $17 million for the upcoming season, but holds a $15-million club option for 2028 that would allow the team to decide whether to bring him back or not.

If Toronto were to pull the trigger on Hernández, it could be a low-risk, high-reward alternative. If things don't pan out, he's only here for one year, but if things do, he's on a payroll-friendly contract for another year – especially if a salary cap is introduced.

It would be the more affordable route than pursuing Suzuki or Chisholm, who are both expected to command value well north of $20 million.

And Hernández wouldn't need much time to get familiar with Toronto, since it's a spot the Dominican slugger is quite familiar with.

Blue Jays bullpen catcher Luis Hurtado, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez pose for a photo ahead of the 2025 World Series. (Kevin Sousa/Imagn Images)

The 34-year-old spent six seasons with the Blue Jays between 2017 and 2022 before the team traded him to the Seattle Mariners for relievers Erik Swanson and Adam Macko – two pitchers who are no longer with the organization.

Hernández spent just one season with Seattle before signing with the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. In his first year there, he was named an All-Star, hit a career-high 33 home runs, plus won a World Series.

But if the Blue Jays front office pursues a reunion with Hernández this offseason, it's unlikely a deal would happen right away.

GM Ross Atkins was adamant during his end-of-season media availability last month that the front office will focus on exploring the Japanese free agency pool, which could mean that their main objective is to land either Sato or Suzuki.

It's always good to have a plan B, though.