Dodgers decline options on Joel Peralta, Chase Utley, Bronson Arroyo
Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley connects for an RBI double against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 23.
In the Dodgers’ latest moves Friday, they declined the options on second baseman Chase Utley, reliever Joel Peralta and right-hander Bronson Arroyo.
Arroyo was a no-brainer, Utley pretty much expected and Peralta a moderate surprise.
Peralta will be 40 next March, which doesn’t typically match a team’s bullpen checklist and he had a mostly disappointing 2015 (4.34 ERA, 1.24 WHIP).
But he was effective enough when healthy, well liked in the clubhouse and relatively inexpensive at $2.5 million. For that much money you would have thought they’d at least brought him to camp, and if he did not look like he would make the club, simply cut him. It’s not like the bullpen is overflowing with sterling options.
Utley was once a star second baseman, but he’ll turn 37 in December and never really got it going in 141 plate appearances as a Dodger (.202/.291/.363). The Phillies agreed to cover his $2-million buyout if the Dodgers elected to exercise it when he was traded. Utley has said he intends to play next season.
Taking Arroyo was part of the price the Dodgers had to pay Atlanta to complete that 13-player trade at the non-waiver deadline. He missed all of last season with Tommy John surgery, never threw a pitch for the Dodgers and turns 39 in February. The Dodgers, however, also got the Braves to agree to cover his $4.5 million buyout during the deal.
The Dodgers now have four openings on their 40-man roster.
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