It took the entire winter, up to the start of spring training, for the Los Angeles Dodgers to reach to terms with beloved utility man Kiké Hernández on a one-year, $6.5 million contract for 2025.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers announced Tuesday that right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone had been placed on the 60-day injured list. This made room for Hernández on Los Angeles’ 40-man roster without requiring another player to be designated for assignment.
So, a fan favorite returns to the reigning World Series champions on a one-year contract, while an injured pitcher who underperformed expectations last season appears to be in for a long recovery and rehab process. That sure worked out well. It’s almost as if that was the plan all along.
Dodgers, Kiké Hernandez clearly had handshake agreement based on latest roster move
Stone’s earliest possible return date from the 60-day IL is May 17, but he will almost definitely miss much more time. The 26-year-old did not pitch for the Dodgers after August 31 of last season due to a right shoulder ailment. The injury necessitated surgery on October 9 and is projected to sideline Stone for the entire 2025 season.
On February 9, Hernández hinted at his return with a social media hype video. The Dodgers could not use the 60-day disabled list until February 10, when pitchers and catchers officially reported to spring training camp. On February 11, the team formally announced Hernández’s signing and Stone’s relocation to the 60-day injured list. Coincidence? We think not.
The Dodgers knew Stone wouldn’t be available in October; they just couldn’t move him to the 60-day injured list and free a slot on the 40-man roster until this week. It’s unclear how long it’s been in place (perhaps since Stone’s surgery in October), but the Dodgers clearly had a handshake agreement with Hernández.
They made us sweat the entire offseason, but what’s done is done. Kiké is back in Dodger Blue, and everything is fine with the world. Let the hunt for back-to-back World Series championships begin!
