Dodgers fan-favorite slugger predicted to ditch L.A. for $72 million Red Sox deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers are still basking in the afterglow of their World Series championship, but several of their players have to quickly shift their attention to free agency.

While the vast majority of the Dodgers core will remain intact next season, there are still noteworthy names who could be on the move. World Series heroes Walker Buehler and Blake Treinen come to mind, but the real prize is a slugger who quickly became a Dodgers fan-favorite.

Teoscar Hernández came to L.A. on a one-year, $23.5 million contract after a disappointing season with the Seattle Mariners. But he rebounded in style, crushing a career-high 33 home runs with an .840 OPS, making his second All-Star team and batting fourth during the World Series run.

Now, though, Hernández is a coveted prize on the open market, and teams like the Boston Red Sox could be a threat to the Dodgers' ability to keep him. Recently, Dean Roussel of SB Nation predicted that Boston would sign Hernández to a three-year, $72 million contract.

"With Tyler O’Neill’s future with the team all but written on the wall, the front office will need to replace his 31 home runs with a guy they actually trust to field, while keeping in mind the blooming Roman Anthony will likely be playing at Fenway in a year’s time," Roussel said.

"In addition to some pitching depth (yes, I said depth... unfortunately...) (John) Henry, (Craig) Breslow and company will look to console the masses by picking up this 31-year-old All-Star, somewhere in the realm of 3 years/72 million dollars."

Hernández might prefer to stay in Los Angeles from a sentimental perspective, but getting to play his home games at Fenway Park would be a heck of a consolation. In 45 career games there, Hernández has 14 home runs and a slugging percentage just over .600.

It might be devastating to Dodgers fans to see Hernández play elsewhere, but it was also somewhat astonishing he was ever able to sign there in the first place. At some point, you can't have all the superstars... right?

More MLB: Dodgers predicted to reunite with 10-time All-Star on $12 million contract