Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez has avoided arbitration by settling with the team on a one-year deal worth $4.325 million, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi has confirmed.
Hernandez won a Silver Slugger award in his breakout 2020 campaign, posting a 146 OPS+ and 16 home runs in 50 games. He also received a few AL MVP votes, finishing 11th in the final tally.
2021 marks Hernandez's first year of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old earned $578,600 as a pre-arbitration player last year, only $15,100 above the league minimum.
Now, he becomes the second-highest paid position player on the Blue Jays' current roster, behind only Randal Grichuk (who is earning $10.333 million). Hernandez has two additional years of arbitration eligibility and will become a free agent in 2024.
Davidi also confirmed that Toronto has agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 million with pitcher Ross Stripling.
In August, Stripling came to the Blue Jays in a trade with the Dodgers, in which Toronto sent prospect Kendall Williams to L.A.
Stripling had a 6.32 ERA and 3.70 FIP in five appearances (two starts) with the Blue Jays. He has one additional year of arbitration eligibility and will become a free agent in 2023.
