It’s the Los Angeles Dodgers again. They have reached an agreement with starting pitcher Blake Snell on a five-year, $182 million contract, the first nine-figure deal of the offseason. Tyler O’Neill, an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, might be their next big summer acquisition. Even though Juan Soto is the greatest outfield player available, it doesn’t seem probable that he will sign a big-money contract in Hollywood just yet. However, the Dodgers need to add another outfield player because Mookie Betts will be returning to the infield in 2025. Will Teoscar Hernández be re-signed as part of that acquisition? That appears to be the most likely scenario, but once a player enters free agency, anything may happen. There are other interesting choices, such as O’Neill.
After being limited to 168 total games from 2022-23, the right-handed slugger had a big year for Boston in 113 games. He led the Red Sox with 31 home runs, which was accompanied by 61 RBI, 74 runs scored and a .847 OPS.
Will he end up with the Dodgers in Los Angeles? Every club should make “one big move” this winter, according to ESPN’s David Schoenfield. He believes O’Neill will sign a three-year, $50 million contract with Los Angeles. “After battling injuries for the past two years, he had a fantastic comeback season with the Red Sox, slugging.In 2024, he scored 511 with 31 home runs in 113 games, according to Schoenfield. “O’Neill would be a good match in the lineup between Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy since, like Hernandez, he destroyed lefties. Additionally, he outfields Hernandez better.
In addition to posting two seasons of 30-plus homers since 2021, O’Neill is also a two-time Gold Glove Award winner. He earned those honors in back-to-back campaigns from 2020-21. He’d be an interesting fit for the Dodgers, especially if Hernández decides to leave for a multi-year deal elsewhere.
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