Making Josue De Paula an everyday player sounds like one of the Dodgers’ easiest offseason decisions.
He is 21 years old, produced an outstanding first impression in the majors and represents exactly the kind of youth Los Angeles needs to begin incorporating into an aging lineup.
The apparent solution would be to trade Teoscar Hernández and give De Paula the available outfield position.
But as Blue Dynasty contributor Austin Brubaker explained on the latest episode of Blue Dynasty Breakdown, that plan creates another problem the Dodgers cannot afford to ignore.
Moving Hernández would remove one of their most dependable hitters against left-handed pitching from a lineup that was exposed by lefties during the postseason.
Teoscar Hernández Still Fills An Important Role
Hernández’s overall production and defensive limitations will naturally make him part of the offseason conversation.
He is also under contract for 2027, when he will receive a $14.5 million salary as part of the three-year, $66 million deal he signed before the 2025 season. The Dodgers hold a club option for 2028.
However, evaluating Hernández solely by his overall numbers overlooks the specific value he provides.
Hernández batted .303 with a .392 on-base percentage and .515 slugging percentage against left-handed pitching in 2026. He hit seven home runs and drove in 23 runs in 132 at-bats against lefties.
That production becomes even more significant when placed beside the Dodgers’ postseason struggles.
Los Angeles batted only .172/.221/.250 against left-handed pitching during the playoffs, producing a .471 OPS in 138 plate appearances. Dodgers hitters also struck out 40 times in those matchups.
That does not mean Hernández must remain on the roster regardless of every other consideration.
It means the Dodgers need a plan for replacing what he does well if they decide to move him.
De Paula Is Not Necessarily A Direct Replacement
De Paula gave the Dodgers every reason to be encouraged during his September opportunity.
He reached base 21 times in 42 plate appearances, batting .323/.500/.581 with one home run, seven RBIs, 11 walks and only five strikeouts.
Those numbers were remarkable for a 21-year-old who jumped directly from Double-A Tulsa.
They also came in only 11 games.
The Dodgers cannot assume De Paula will immediately reproduce that performance across a full major-league season. They must also determine whether his defense is ready for a regular outfield assignment.
De Paula made only two appearances in left field during his first stint with Los Angeles, totaling six defensive innings. Most of his opportunities came at designated hitter while Shohei Ohtani was injured.
With Ohtani expected to reclaim the DH position in 2027, De Paula will need to play the outfield if the Dodgers want him in the lineup regularly.
Brandon Gomes has already identified De Paula’s outfield defense as a major offseason priority.
Trading Hernández Would Require A Second Move
Brubaker’s point was not that the Dodgers should automatically keep Hernández.
It was that replacing him with De Paula cannot be the entire plan.
De Paula’s left-handed bat could improve the lineup against right-handed pitching, but Los Angeles would still need someone capable of punishing lefties. That production could come from an infielder, a fourth outfielder or a carefully constructed platoon.
The Dodgers could also keep Hernández while gradually expanding De Paula’s role, although finding consistent playing time would become difficult with Ohtani occupying DH.
Every option comes with a tradeoff.
Keeping Hernández preserves an important right-handed bat but makes the lineup older and complicates De Paula’s path to regular at-bats.
Trading Hernández clears the position but risks making an existing weakness against left-handed pitching even more pronounced.
The Dodgers Need A Complete Roster Plan
There has been no announcement that the Dodgers intend to trade Hernández, and De Paula has not been promised an everyday position.
Those decisions will depend on the rest of the roster Los Angeles constructs.
The Dodgers need to become younger. De Paula has already demonstrated that his bat could help them begin that transition.
But making room for a prospect is not only about removing the veteran standing in front of him.
It is about understanding everything that veteran provides—and finding another way to replace it.
Trading Teoscar Hernández could open a position for Josue De Paula. Unless the Dodgers also replace Hernández’s production against left-handed pitching, however, solving one roster problem could create another.