The Los Angeles Dodgers have quickly moved forward in the wake of Zack Greinke agreeing to a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It began with Los Angeles reportedly agreeing to a three-year contract with Hisashi Iwakuma on Sunday.
And continued on Monday as the Dodgers appear to have a deal in place with the Cincinnati Reds for closer Aroldis Chapman.
While the Dodgers have made progress in addressing their pitching needs, second base remains a question mark.
Chase Utley reportedly agreed to a one-year contract, though he’s turning 37 years old on Dec. 17 and is hardly the full-time answer. That could be found in Ben Zobrist, who is someone the Dodgers met with on Sunday, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:
Dodgers met Sunday on zobrist, so they're the mystery 4th team. Mets, nats, giants all in; all understand it will be 4 yrs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 7, 2015
With Zobrist hoping to make a decision this week, the Dodgers are not one of the teams he is considering most, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Zobrist wants to make decision at meetings. Focused on NYM, WAS, SF. Would be difficult for #Dodgers to pry him away so late in process.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2015
While the Dodgers appear to be on the outside looking in for Zobrist, it’s also said to be unlike they re-sign Howie Kendrick. Zobrist has ties to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman during their time together in Tampa Bay.
The 34-year-old utility man spent last season with the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals. He hit 284/.364/.453 with a .354 wOBA, 124 wRC+, seven home runs, 16 doubles and 23 RBIs over 59 games with the Royals.
Zobrist batted 268/.354/.447 with a .345 wOBA, 122 wRC+, six home runs, 20 doubles and 33 RBIs over 67 games as a member of the Athletics.
Friedman reiterated last week the Dodgers could also look internally to fill the need at second base. However, it’s being speculated one option — Jose Peraza — may be on his way to Cincinnati in the Chapman trade.
