Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Enrique Hernandez. David Frerker-Imagn Images

Could Yankees go after key piece of Dodgers' World Series run?

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Feb 1, 2025 1:53 PM ET

After seeing the impact he made against them in the World Series, the New York Yankees are rumored to be positioning themselves to bring Enrique Hernandez to the Bronx.

Hernandez was solid for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 postseason, notably his performance against the Yankees in the World Series, where he slashed .278/.316/.389 in 20 plate appearances. That gave New York an idea of what Hernandez could do as a utility player in pinstripes, according to Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post.

In his article, Sanchez added that this wasn't the first time the Yankees inquired about the 33-year-old as they "asked about" him last offseason before he signed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $4 million deal.

Of his 11 MLB seasons, portions of eight were spent with the Dodgers, so the franchise is very familiar with Hernandez and what he can do to help them return to the Fall Classic in 2025. With Los Angeles, he has a .240/.307/.416 batting line and OPS+ of 95 in 2,452 plate appearances over 828 games.

Those numbers increase in the postseason as Hernandez has batted .278/.353/.522 in 259 plate appearances over 86 games (75 with the Dodgers).

KIKÉ HERNÁNDEZ DOUBLES UP THE DODGERS LEAD WITH A TWO-RUN HOMER

(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/hIsikrRig4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 17, 2024

Since Gleyber Torres signed with the Detroit Tigers in December, the Yankees have been seeking infield help. After missing out on options such as Ha-Seong Kim (who recently signed with division rival Tampa Bay Rays), Hernandez could help in that department.

However, insiders, such as ESPN's Buster Olney, have stated that Hernandez returning to the Dodgers for 2025 should be a move the defending World Champions make, despite what has already been a very active and expensive offseason in Los Angeles.

Could a bidding war between the Yankees and Dodgers break out for Hernandez? The two teams that battled each other in October could be at it again even before the 2025 season begins.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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