Purple Sox have been by no means near signing Teoscar Hernandez

Cross off one other right-handed hitter the Purple Sox have been reportedly concerned with signing, however whiffed on.

Teoscar Hernandez returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $66 million contract on Friday, in response to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Boston had been linked to Hernandez this winter.

The most recent rumor between the Purple Sox and the 32-year-old emerged earlier this month from MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, who reported that the membership “meant to pursue” Hernandez in the event that they didn’t signal Juan Soto. Soto landed with the New York Mets on Dec. 8, inking a historic 15-year, $765 million deal.

Nevertheless, it seems that Boston and Hernandez have been by no means near an settlement. Each Underdog Fantasy’s Jared Carrabis and MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported this.

“Purple Sox weren’t even remotely near getting one thing performed right here,” Carrabis shared on X.

Shortly after, Cotillo corroborated the report on X, as effectively.

“Requested a supply if the Purple Sox got here shut on Teoscar Hernandez and the reply was a easy one: ‘No.’”

Cotillo expounded on the report, noting that the Purple Sox by no means significantly pursued the participant.

“They by no means actually pushed right here,” he posted. “They have been lukewarm, at greatest, all through the method. … They weren’t shut in any respect.”

2024 marks the second straight offseason during which Boston was reportedly concerned with including Hernandez. Final 12 months, the Purple Sox provided him a contract.

Nevertheless, in response to Hernandez himself, Boston’s ultimate provide to him was for 2 years and $28 million. He turned that down and as a substitute signed with Los Angeles for one 12 months, $23.5 million. Hernandez was a part of the Dodgers’ 2024 World Sequence-winning roster.

Earlier this 12 months, Hernandez spoke with WEEI’s Rob Bradford in regards to the Purple Sox’ pursuit of him in free company. Hernandez defined how he thought he was going to finish up in Boston, however the group’s provide was not what he was searching for.

“Clearly, I used to be not gonna go and spend my free company attempting to get a nasty deal,” Hernandez stated when requested if he would have accepted a three-year deal from Boston. “As a result of on the finish of the day, I like the Purple Sox. The Purple Sox was one in every of my favourite groups. And I like taking part in in (Fenway Park). … Actually on the finish, I assumed they have been gonna make it. However sadly, they stated they’ve to attend as a result of they should make some strikes and all that stuff. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

Whereas the Purple Sox submitted contract parameters final time round, it’s unclear whether or not the membership provided Hernandez a deal this 12 months.

Regardless of lacking out on Hernandez as soon as once more, a number of right-handed hitters stay in the marketplace. Infielder Alex Bregman and outfielder Anthony Santander are two names Boston has been linked to this winter.