While starting pitching and completing their bench are top priorities this offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be in the lead in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes during free agency.

Position players Kiké Hernández, Jason Heyward, Jake Marisnick, David Peralta, Amed Rosario, and Kolten Wong are among the Dodgers’ 16 unrestricted free agents.

Heyward and the Dodgers are rumoured to be interested in each other, while Hernández has stated that he is prepared to resign as well.

Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers are considering signing Teoscar Hernández as one of their outside options.

Hernández, who bats for the Seattle Mariners, is coming off a bit of a bad season.Over 160 games, he hit 258/.305/.435 with 29 doubles, 26 home runs, 93 RBI, a 106 OPS+, a.317 wOBA, and a 105 wRC+.

Hernández had at least a.807 on-base plus slugging percentage and 130 wRC+ in three straight seasons prior to that. A selection for the MLB All-Star Game in 2021 and back-to-back Silver Slugger Awards were two highlights of the run.

The 31-year-old hit 287/.307/.511 with 11 doubles, seven home runs, and 27 RBI in 150 plate appearances versus left-handed pitching this year, despite some regression. The Dodgers have tried to address that as a potential weakness at the trade deadline.

It amounted to Kiké Hernández and Rosario finalising separate deals this past season.

The Dodgers bench forecast

Teoscar Hernández can play all three outfield positions; however, he has spent his whole career exclusively playing right field. When facing a left-handed starter, the Dodgers could theoretically platoon him in right field, freeing up Mookie Betts to play second base.

That gave Heyward a chance to start in right field, so the Dodgers began to rely on it frequently when facing right-handers.

Right now, the only players on the Dodgers bench are Chris Taylor (assuming he isn’t used as a starter in left field) and Austin Barnes.