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The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Free Agent second baseman Chase Utley to a one-year deal, ensuring that he will return for his 14th MLB season.
The six-time all-star, who played 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, was traded to the Dodgers in August for minor leaguer John Richy and Darnell Sweeney.
In 34 regular season games with L.A., Utley hit .202, with three home runs and nine RBI’s. Combined between the Phillies and Dodgers, the .280 career hitter, batted just .217, with eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 107 games.
But he will be remembered most in 2015 for his collision at second base in the NLDS with Mets Ruben Tejada, which resulted in young shortstop suffering a broken leg and ending his postseason. Utley would be suspended for two games, after plowing into Tejada as he slide after the bag and into Tejada’s leg, but his appeal of the suspension, allowed him to remain active in the series.
Other Dodgers news…
After losing Zack Greinke to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers reached a deal with free agent Hisashi Iwakuma, on a three-year $45 million dollar contract.
The Japanese native, began his career with the Seattle Mariners in 2012 and posted a 9-5 record, with a 3.16 ERA. In 2013, he became an all-star winning 14 games against six loses, with a 2.66 ERA, striking out 185 batters in 219.2 innings.
This past season after just three starts, he spent two-and-a-half months on the DL from late April to early July, with a strained muscle in his back and side.
In his four years in the majors, Iwakuma is 47-25, with a career 3.17 ERA. The 34 year old right handed starter looks fill the hole in the rotation, left by the departed by Greinke.
Chapman trade in doubt?
The Dodgers seem to be the most active team with adding quality arms thus far this off season, but one deal may not go through as the trade for Reds closer Aroldis Chapman may hit a legal snag.
The Cuban Flame Thrower, who holds the fastest recorded pitch speed in MLB history at 105 MPH, is being investigated for an alleged domestic violence incident in the garage of his Miami-area home. As reported by MLB.com, Chapman, fired eight shots into a garage after an argument with his girlfriend back in October. No arrests have been made, but MLB has launched an investigation into the claims after more than a dozen officers responded to the call.
If the trade does go through, the Dodgers will have the best one-two punch with Chapman and Kenley Jansen at the end of the bullpen.
Chapman will enter the 2016 season with 146 saves, a career 2.17 ERA, and 546 strikeouts in 319 innings. In 2015, he posted a 1.63 ERA, with 33 saves, and 116 strikeouts in 66.1 innings.
As for Jansen, the 6’5″ right handed closer, saved 36 games for the Dodgers in 2015, with a 2.41 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 52.1 innings.
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