Earlier on Sunday, we discussed the Dodgers' reported interest in Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe. It's the latest in a line of rumors connecting the Dodgers to various second basemen (think the Tigers Ian Kinsler and the Twins Brian Dozier).
Yet apparently none of those murmurs -- smoke suggesting the real target is a bigger name -- mean the Dodgers have closed the door on bringing back Chase Utley for another spin around the sun:
Even as they search for 2B upgrades via trade, #Dodgers are telling people they remain "very open" to bringing back FA Chase Utley, 38 soon.
— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) November 21, 2016
Utley just completed his first full season in Los Angeles, hitting .252/.319/.396 with 14 home runs. Those are decent marks. His 95 OPS+ was a big improvement over his 2015 figure, but that he did so while making a career-low amount of contact and striking out at a career-high clip are worrisome tidbits. Ditto for the fact that he's going to turn 38 the week before Christmas.
The Dodgers presumably view Utley as more of a Plan C than anything -- someone who is familiar with the clubhouse and comfortable with a platoon-heavy role. If Farhan Zaidi's attempts at nabbing Kinsler, Dozier, or Forsythe fail, then Utley can return as the most-days starter. That's probably what the Dodgers mean by saying they're "very open" to a reunion.
What are the odds of it coming to that? Who knows. But the Dodgers are seemingly planting the seeds for a big move at the keystone, and it would be a disappointment -- and potentially a mistake, given the attrition risk involved -- if all they do is ink Utley to another one-year deal.
