The Dodgers continued to mold their roster for the 2017 season and beyond with the signings of veteran players Chase Utley and Franklin Gutierrez.
Utley, a 13-year veteran returns to the club after a brief stint in free agency this winter. The five-time all-star infielder batted .252 with 14 home runs and 79 runs scored in 2016. He will likely platoon at second base with Logan Forsythe, who also signed a free agent deal with the team this offseason.
Gutierrez joins an already crowded outfield after spending his first 11 seasons as a member of the Indians and Mariners. The 6’2”, 200 lb. native of Venezuela was a former highly touted prospect who had a banner year in 2009 when he batted .283 with 18 home runs and 70 runs scored while playing centerfield for the Mariners.
Injuries limited Gutierrez over the past five seasons, including a gastrointestinal issue that cost him the entire 2014 campaign.
With Joe Peterson, Tristan Thompson, Andre Either, Yasiel Puig, Andrew Toles, and Scott Van Slyke already on the depth chart, it remains to be seen where Gutierrez will fit into manager Dave Roberts’ plans.
