Utley, Dodgers agree to one-year deal
Yankees beat Betances in arbitration hearing; Padres sign Weaver
Veteran free-agent infielder Chase Utley officially returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract.
Utley said he had received two other offers but decided on the Dodgers because of the club’s chemistry.
“I like the guys here,” said Utley, who batted .252 over 138 games for the Dodgers last season.
He also likes their chances at winning the World Series. “Ultimately, the goal for any of us in this clubhouse is to win the championship,” said Utley, who appeared in 34 games for the Dodgers in 2015 after they acquired him on Aug. 19 in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies. “I feel like we have the pieces to do that here.”
There were some questions about whether Utley would be back with the Dodgers, especially after they acquired second baseman Logan Forsythe from Tampa Bay on Jan. 23 in a trade for pitcher Jose De Leon.
Utley, 38, said the Dodgers stayed in touch with him during the offseason. They value his experience and leadership. They also like his toughness and poise.
“He’s at the top of the list as far as eliminating noise,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who at a baseball dinner in January called Utley his favorite all-time player.
Betances loses decision:
The Yankees beat Dellin Betances in their arbitration hearing. Then took to the offensive, with club president Randy Levine leading the charge, in blasting the pitcher’s representation for taking the case to arbitration, using words like “overreaching,” “ridiculous” and “halfbaked.”
“We only go to arbitration when we think that people on the players’ side, not necessarily players, but their agents and representatives, make over-the-top demands,” Levine said Saturday. “Demands based on very little sense of reality.”
The decision came down in the Yankees favor earlier Saturday, with Betances getting the $3 million the team had offered in January. Betances, an All-Star the last three years, was seeking $5 million.
Weaver joins Padres:
Right-hander Jered Weaver has agreed to a $3 million, one-year deal with the San Diego Padres after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. The 34-year-old Weaver had spent his entire career with the Angels, going 150-93 with a 3.55 ERA and three All-Star selections.
Wright to begin throwing:
The Mets hope that third baseman David Wright begins a light throwing program as early as Sunday.
Several weeks ago, Wright had an injection, part of the maintenance required to keep him on the field after undergoing season-ending neck surgery last June.
The injection typically requires a certain amount of rest, which is part of the reason Wright has yet to begin throwing.