Report: Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard targeting early January return
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is reportedly targeting Jan. 4 against the Atlanta Hawks for his season debut, according to Law Murray of the Athletic.
Teoscar Hernandez is reportedly staying in L.A.
The All-Star outfielder signed a three-year, $66 million contract with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, first reported by MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the deal has a fourth-year option for $15 million, a $23 million signing bonus and $23 million in deferred money.
Hernandez got in the fun of announcing his deal, posting on his Instagram story, “I’m back,” with a blue heart.
In 154 games last year, Hernandez batted .272 with a career-high 33 home runs while driving in 99 runs. He also had a career-best 4.3 bWAR.
Hernandez also played a key role in the Dodgers’ run to the Commissioner’s Trophy, slashing .250/.352/.417 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and the go-ahead double in Los Angeles’ Game 5 championship-clinching win over the New York Yankees.
Defensively, he spent most of the year in left field, recording minus-8 defensive runs saved and minus-9 outs above average at the position.
Since 2019, the slugger ranks within the top 15 league-wide in home runs (158) and RBIs (484).
The former Blue Jay, 32, joined the Dodgers on a one-year deal last off-season, where he earned his second All-Star nod, won the Home Run Derby, a Silver Slugger Award and finished 19th in MVP voting.
Through nine MLB seasons spent with Houston, Toronto, Seattle and L.A., the six-foot-two Dominican has hit 192 career homers, drove in 525 runs and posted an .808 OPS. During his time with the Blue Jays, he won two Silver Sluggers, was chosen to the AL All-Star team and received MVP votes in 2020 and 2021.
Hernandez’s return continues the Dodgers’ big winter. The club has already signed former Cy Young winner Blake Snell and outfielder Michael Conforto. Los Angeles also extended NLCS MVP Tommy Edman and re-signed reliever Blake Treinen.
For teams looking to add impact bats this off-season, the market continues to shrink. With Hernandez locked up, Alex Bregman, Anthony Santander and Pete Alonso figure to be the top free-agent hitters remaining.
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