In an appearance on the YouTube series, “Foul Territory.”, Kiké Hernández aired his feelings regarding the current state of free agency — and the veteran didn’t hold back.
Hernández, recently locked into a one-year contract worth $4 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, didn’t mince words on the show, stating, “I’m not going to say the C-word, but I think the C-word needs a capital C.” This thinly veiled insinuation suggests his belief that MLB owners might be engaging in collusion to stifle player market dynamics.
“The timing of the calls (with teams) were very similar,” Hernández said on the show. “The numbers were pretty much the same throughout. I think the teams that are using these computer systems to project numbers, project salaries, they’re all using the same one and I think they all have the same password. So that’s how free agency is going, and it’s not just me.”
Collusion among owners is forbidden — a Major League Baseball spokesperson declined to comment.
Later that Thursday afternoon, Hernández maintained his frustration while talking to reporters at Los Angeles’ Spring Training facility.
“I mean, it’s been terrible,” Hernández said. “There’s still a lot of really good quality baseball players, big leaguers that are more than capable of being everyday guys on a lot of teams, and the fact that they’re still out there, it’s a shame. It seems like a lot of the owners had an excuse in terms of the TV deal and things like that. It was a very weird offseason and it still is for some guys. It doesn’t seem like things are picking up either for some of those guys, which is shameful.”
While Hernández and the Dodgers maintained mutual interest over the winter, finalizing the deal took considerable time. Hernández, who revealed on “Foul Territory” that his final decision came down to the Dodgers and the New York Yankees, revisited discussions with Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman. Just weeks prior, Hernández had only one offer on the table, affording the Dodgers the opportunity to step in.
