MLB Free Agency: Best Bargains This Offseason

Chase Utley

Chase Utley also just signed with a team, re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year deal. The Dodgers went from having no quality second baseman at all to having two solid options, both of whom are great locker room presences. While Utley won’t be starting and taking back his 2016 role, he will definitely serve as a great asset off the bench and in the clubhouse for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was stated that several Dodgers players were lobbying for the Dodgers front office to re-sign the veteran second baseman. It had nothing to do with any distaste with Logan Forsythe, which was a praised move, instead being a request for Utley’s veteran leadership. Utley provides a great dynamic in the clubhouse for a team seeking its first World Series in 29 years; doing so with a pretty cheap contract. The deal was for one year and $2 million, a big drop from the $7 million deal last season.

For only $2 million the Dodgers struck gold in bringing back a key clubhouse piece. Utley can still perform too, as he batted .252 with 14 home runs and 52 runs batted in. Heck, if it wasn’t for a cold June and September, Utley could have easily batted .270, showing he still has something left in the tank. With a reduced workload Utley will definitely thrive and prove to be worth far more than his $2 million price tag.