The Toronto Blue Jays have long been interested in a potential reunion with free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, and General Manager Ross Atkins reaffirmed that interest on Monday during baseball’s winter meetings in Dallas.

As Atkins shared with the Toronto Star:

“It’s tough for me to talk about free agents and interest, or not interest,” Atkins said. “But I can say with Teo, there are so many positives about him that we are definitely interested in figuring out a way for that to be a possibility.”

After missing out on free agent star Juan Soto over the weekend, the Blue Jays are exploring other options, and Hernandez could be an excellent alternative. While he’s 32 years old, Hernandez will likely come at a much lower price than Soto, giving the Jays more flexibility to address other needs this offseason.

Recent reports also suggested Hernandez was close to finalizing a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but negotiations seem to have stalled, opening the door for the Blue Jays to re-enter the conversation.

A nine-year veteran, Hernandez spent six seasons with Toronto, helping lead the team to the playoffs in 2020 and 2022, and earning an All-Star selection in 2021.

Ahead of the 2023 season, the Blue Jays traded Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners. With Hernandez entering the final year of his contract, the team opted to free up salary space and believed they could replace his production. Along with trading Hernandez, they dealt Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and brought in Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier. While the Blue Jays did reach the playoffs in 2023, they finished last in the American League East that season.

Hernandez had a solid season with the Dodgers, hitting .272 with 33 homers and 99 RBIs, helping them secure a World Series victory over the New York Yankees. He also made his second All-Star appearance.