‘Never say never’ – Chase Utley is back with the Dodgers

When East coast Dodger fans woke up on Saturday morning, they did so to the news that 38-year-old / 14-year MLB veteran second baseman Chase Utley is once again a Dodger; news which was reported shortly before 9 pm on Friday night on the West coast.

But for as excited as Dodger fans are – on both coasts – over what can only be described as great news, there is one guy who is beyond ecstatic over it – Dodgers shortstop and 2016 National League Rookie of the Year Corey Seager.

“[I’m] still hoping there’s a chance he’ll be coming back. He was tremendous for me. I can’t thank him enough for what he did for me and all that stuff,” said Seager, during last month’s FanFest event at Dodger Stadium. “I’ll still stay in contact with him and will ask him for advice. I’m still looking forward to still continuing a relationship with him.”

That relationship will now be a tap-on-the-shoulder away for the young superstar shortstop.

Although the Utley re-signing has yet to be made official by the Dodgers, it is well understood by all that the Pasadena, California native and former UCLA Bruin will be utilized in a bench role because of the Dodgers’ recent acquisition of 30-year-old veteran second baseman Logan Forsythe. That being said and in the words of Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Utley brings a lot more to the team than just his four-time Silver Slugger bat and his six-time All-Star glove.

“You never say never with a guy like Chase just because of the type of guy he is and the impact that he has,” Friedman told reporters during a January 23, 2017 press conference confirming the Jose De Leon for Logan Forsythe trade.

On Thursday it was reported that Utley had narrowed down his list of possible suitors to four teams – including the Dodgers. And though the details of his new contract are not yet known, many believe that it will be a one-year deal in the $8 million range – up slightly from the $7 million that he made last season with the Dodgers.

Any way you slice it, it is money well spent.

 

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One Response to “‘Never say never’ – Chase Utley is back with the Dodgers”

  1. Bluenose Dodger says:

    Utley will make $2 million in 2017 plus incentives, per Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

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