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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Dodgers, in search of depth throughout their infield, reacquired super-utilityman Enrique Hernandez from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, the teams announced.
Boston received right-handed reliever Nick Robertson — who has thrown 10.1 innings in the majors this year — and minor league right-hander Justin Hagenman from the Dodgers in the deal. Robertson was optioned to Triple A.
The Dodgers also received cash from Boston.
Hernandez, 31, can provide additional help to the Dodgers up the middle at second base, shortstop and center field, all areas of need to some degree for the NL West’s best team (57-42).
Hernandez has struggled offensively in Boston over the past two years, slashing .222/.286/.330 in 725 plate appearances. He has, however, been slightly better against left-handers this season, batting .260/.314/.338.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday before a game against Toronto that he was excited to get Hernandez back. Hernandez was expected to arrive in Los Angeles late Tuesday and Roberts is hoping to use him Wednesday.
Roberts described Hernandez as a “Swiss Army knife” due to his versatility.
“We’re excited to get him back here. I know the fans are excited,” Roberts said. “He hasn’t had the best of seasons but the bet is being back home and familiarity can help him tap back into being the player we know he can be.”
While Hernandez has spent most of the season as the Red Sox’s primary shortstop, the imminent return of Trevor Story from surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow made him expendable. Story started a rehab assignment on Friday and joined the Red Sox’s Triple-A team Tuesday.
Chaim Bloom, Red Sox chief baseball officer, made a point of thanking Hernandez for his contributions to the organization and his professionalism, even through his struggles this season.
“He, as you would expect, handled it great,” Bloom told reporters.
“This was a case where we wanted to make sure that he found out the right way, so we let him under the hood a little early and that turned out to be valuable because it obviously took a lot of time for the I’s to be dotted and the T’s crossed. While he was waiting for it to be completed, he was his usual self around this place and that was really cool to see.”
The Dodgers are hoping a return to L.A. could provide offensive spark for a player who has carved out a career largely by playing multiple positions.
Hernandez played for the Dodgers from 2015 to 2020 and became one of the franchise’s most beloved players during that time. He culminated his stint with a tying home run in Game 7 of the 2020 National League Championship Series, on the way to the franchise’s first World Series title in more than 30 years.
Hernandez then signed a two-year, $14 million free agent contract with the Red Sox over the ensuing offseason, and the team extended him with a one-year, $10 million deal last fall.
Hernandez will seemingly fill in at multiple positions for the Dodgers, who still are reeling from the loss of shortstop Gavin Lux (torn ACL in spring training) and have absorbed struggles from two of their brightest young players, second baseman Miguel Vargas and center fielder James Outman.
Robertson, 25, was a seventh-round pick of the Dodgers in 2019. He’s appeared in nine games for Los Angeles this season, going 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA, striking out 13 and walking four in 10.1 innings. He’s also appeared in 27 games at Triple A, with a 2-0 record and a 2.54 ERA in 28.1 innings, striking out 42 with seven saves.
Hagenman, 26, has spent the whole season at Triple A, going 4-0 with a 2.78 ERA, striking out 60 in 55 innings.
Boston also remains active in the trade market ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, looking for pitching to supplement a rotation that has been beset by injuries. The Red Sox have scored 504 runs this season, the third most in the American League, but their 463 runs allowed is the most in the AL East and 10th in the league.
“You don’t want to miss a really compelling opportunity even if it puts you over the tax,” Bloom said. “There’s not a hard and fast line, but it’s obviously something that’s important.”
Also Tuesday, the Red Sox reinstated right-hander John Schreiber (lat) from the 60-day injured list and right-hander Brayan Bello from the paternity list.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com