Friday was an expectedly busy day for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who extended qualifying offers to Brett Anderson, Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick.
Soon after making that official, the Dodgers announced they declined team options on pitchers Bronson Arroyo ($13 million) and Joel Peralta ($2.5 million), and infielder Chase Utley.
Arroyo’s $4.5 million buyout will be covered by the Atlanta Braves, while Utley’s $2 million buyout will be paid by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Utley’s club option for 2016 fell somewhere between $5-11 million, with the total dependent on time spent on the disabled list this season. Utley missed 39 games in 2015 (all with the Phillies) due to a right ankle issue.
The veteran second baseman’s agent said his client intends on continuing his career next season. Utley is facing a two-game suspension as a result of his hard slide in Game 2 of the National League Division Series that broke New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada’s leg.
Utley appealed the suspension, with his hearing expected to be heard around Spring Training. He hit .202/.291/.363 in 34 games with the Dodgers.
Arroyo missed the entire 2015 season and last pitched in June 2014. He was acquired by the Dodgers in a complex trade with the Braves and Miami Marlins.
Battling a nerve/neck injury early in the season, Peralta struggled before finally managing to get healthy. Peralta said after the Dodgers season ended he hopes to pitch in 2016. He appeared in just 33 games, finishing with a 4.34 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 29 innings pitched.
In other roster news, outfielders Chris Heisey and Justin Ruggiano declined to accept respective outright assignments to Triple-A Oklahoma City and are now free agents. Reliever J.P. Howell exercised his $6.25 million player option for next season.
