The Los Angeles Dodgers fell just short of their goal last season, losing in heart-breaking fashion to the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the World Series. Because of that, they went into the 2018 season with unfinished business and returning their entire core nucleus of players.
One of those players is 39-year-old Chase Utley, who was a free agent this past offseason but decided to return to the Dodgers on a two-year contract. It marked a third consecutive offseason he re-signed with the club.
The pursuit of a second World Series championship was the main reason that Utley decided to return to the Dodgers, and playing alongside a young group of teammates has also energized him, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports:
“Just being here, around all of the young guys, and having a chance to win,’’ Utley said, “has kind of rejuvenated me. There’s nothing like winning a World Series. I’d love for these guys in here to experience the same thing.
“Really, that would mean everything to me.’’
Utley is no longer an everyday player at this point in his career, but with the injury to Justin Turner forcing Logan Forsythe to move from second to third base, he could see extended playing time to start the season.
Utley’s play on the field wasn’t the sole reason the Dodgers brought him back though. It was more for his presence in the clubhouse, especially around those younger core players like Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently said that Utley has had the greatest impact in a clubhouse that he’s ever seen ,which is high praise for the six-time All-Star.
Despite signing the two-year contract, Utley is unsure if he will play beyond this season, keeping his focus on bringing the first World Series championship to Los Angeles since 1988.
