The Blue Jays' reported interest in Teoscar Hernández looked like a smart plan B at first. A closer look at his recent numbers makes a reunion much harder to justify.

Dodgers Way's Pat Ragazzo reported that Toronto has interest after missing on Kyle Tucker last winter. The nostalgia is easy to understand.

His best years came in Toronto. In 2021, he slashed .296/.346/.524 with 32 homers and a 132 wRC+.

The Jays traded him to Seattle after the 2022 wild-card series for Erik Swanson and Adam Macko. In 2024 with the Dodgers, he hit a career-high 33 homers.

The last two seasons tell a different story. In 2025, he posted a 102 wRC+ and a .284 on-base percentage, his first OBP below .300.

He bounced back slightly in 2026 with a 110 wRC+. But he hit a career-low 16 homers and struck out 27.5% of the time.

Teoscar Hernández's left field defence is a growing problem

The glove is worse. In 966.1 innings in left field in 2026, he posted -6 Defensive Runs Saved, -6 Outs Above Average and -6 Fielding Run Value.

At 34, that's unlikely to improve. He's trending toward full-time DH work, and Toronto already has Anthony Santander penciled in there.

He also carries a luxury tax hit of just under $20 million. That's a lot for a player declining at the plate and in the field.

Is there still a scenario where it works? Only if Toronto moves Santander and opens up the DH spot.

The numbers kill the plan B argument. Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Randy Arozarena were all more productive in 2026, and Teruaki Sato is younger with real power.

Bringing him back now is like returning to an old favourite restaurant after the chef left. The sign is the same, but the food isn't.

The clubhouse would welcome him, no question. But Toronto can't afford to fill a key lineup spot with a hitter on the decline.

Ross Atkins should keep this option only as a last resort. If he ends up using it, the offseason has gone badly wrong.