By james art 
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers extended the qualifying offer to free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, but not to pitcher Walker Buehler.
The 2025 qualifying offer is a one-year contract worth $21 million. Hernandez likely won’t accept the qualifying offer. He did more last season than his one-year contract with the Dodgers and enjoyed an All-Star caliber season that is sure to attract multi-year, higher salary offers.
The Dodgers can still sign Hernandez whether or not he accepts the qualifying offer. If he signs with another team, the Dodgers will receive draft pick compensation.
Buehler, meanwhile, was a surprise pick not to be offered a qualifying offer. If offered and accepted, it would represent a significant increase from the $8.25 million he made in 2024 despite his poor regular season results (1-6 record and 5.38 ERA) since returning from Tommy surgery John. But it would recognize his outstanding postseason performance and give him a year to rebuild his value before re-entering the free agent market at age 31.
Another Dodgers free agent pitcher, Jack Flaherty, was ineligible for the qualifying offer because he was traded during the season. Other free agents — pitchers Joe Kelly, Blake Treinen and reliever Quique Hernandez — didn’t have high enough salaries to make a qualifying offer reasonable.
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