Dodgers Continue To Make Moves
By Jamaal Artis
Not the move fans were hoping for but the Los Angeles Dodgers are adding veteran Chase Utley.
Queue the Diddy song “Coming Home”
While the Dodgers were busy losing 5-2 in a day game to the last place Oakland Athletics, they continued to make front office moves to gear up for a playoff appearance. Though continue to need bullpen help, the Dodgers have been unable to get the right personnel for such a move. The Dodgers instead added the bat of veteran second baseman Chase Utley.
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Utley was being pursued by the Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers are giving up two minor leaguers who have yet to be named. The Dodgers will only need to pay $2 million of the $6 million still left on Utley’s contract meaning they saved some money on the deal. For the 36-year-old Utley this move is a homecoming, the Pasadena native who was originally drafted by the Dodgers out of high school instead opted to play college ball at UCLA eventually being re-drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies where he has spent his entire career.
With Utley the Dodgers are certainly adding veteran leadership and a clutch playoff performer who was part of the Phillies core that won 5 straight NL East division titles from 2007-11 including teams that won a World Series in 2008 and a NL pennant in 2009.
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The Dodgers are also adding a veteran player who may be at the tail end of his career. Before going on the disabled list (DL) for inflammation of the ankle, Utley was hitting 7 doubles and a paltry .179 in 65 games, easily his worst hitting year since he was a rookie. But since coming off the DL, in 8 games Utley has done better hitting .484 with 7 doubles.
Primarily a second baseman Utley will be reunited with his double play partner Jimmy Rollins. In Philadelphia the combo anchored the Phillies infield defense since 2006 when Utley took over the starting 2nd baseman spot.
Utley is expected to take over 2nd base until Howie Kendrick who is dealing with hamstring issues returns in September. With Utley at second base it may mean Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson will be sitting out more games as he continues to struggle at the plate hitting just .219 and 3 home runs since the All-Star break. With Utley in the lineup, current second baseman Enrique (Kike) Hernandez can center field if Pederson is sat down. When Kendrick comes back the Dodgers can keep Utley’s bat in the lineup if need be by having him play other positions.
Plan is for Utley to play second while Howie Kendrick is out, then play some first and third when he returns.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) August 19, 2015
For Dodgers fans clamoring for bullpen help Utley isn’t the answer, but hopefully his veteran leadership and improving bat can spark the Dodgers as they continue to chase the team’s first appearance in a World Series in 27 years.