When the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for Chase Utley in August they had an apparent need at second base. Howie Kendrick was on the disabled list at the time with a strained hamstring, and he didn’t return until Sept. 18.
Once Kendrick was reinstated from the DL, Utley received one start at first base and three at third base. It was the first time in his 13-year Major League career he logged any time at the hot corner.
Aside from the time missed due to injury, Kendrick largely had a successful first season with the Dodgers.
The 32 year old hit .295/.336/.409 with nine home runs, 54 RBIs, a .325 wOBA and 109 wRC+.
Kendrick became a free agent at season’s end and declined the Dodgers’ qualifying offer. He stated he was open to re-signing, though that has long appeared unlikely.
Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi added more credence to that notion on Wednesday when he said the club was locked in with Kiké Hernandez and Chase Utley as second-base options, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times:
“We feel pretty set at second base with Chase [Utley] and [Enrique Hernandez],” Zaidi said. “We are not really actively involved in the market for infielders at this point.”
The Dodgers declined their team option on Utley’s contract for 2016, with his buyout paid by the Philadelphia Phillies per terms of their August trade. Utley then re-signed with Los Angeles for one year and a $7 million salary.
Prior to reaching an agreement with Utley, Dodgers president of baseball operations identified Hernandez and Jose Peraza as candidates to take over at second base next season. Peraza was since dealt to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team trade that involved the Chicago White Sox.
Hernandez bounced around for the Dodgers last season, spending time at second base (20 games; 15 starts), center field (19 games; 18 starts), left field (17 games; five starts), shortstop (16 games; 11 starts), right field (two games; one start) and third base (one start).
He spent the latter portion of the year in center as Joc Pederson continued to struggle at the plate. Hernandez hit .307/.346/.490 with seven home runs, 12 doubles, 22 RBIs, a .359 wOBA and 132 wRC+ over 218 plate appearances.
Utley batted .202/.291/.363 over 34 largely uneventful games with the Dodgers. He faces a two-game suspension for his hard slide that broke New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada’s leg in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
Although the veteran recently turned 37 years old, Utley is entering next season with the mindset to play a significant role for the Dodgers.
