Dodgers finalize one-year deal with Chase Utley

The Dodgers still view Chase Utley as a capable offensive player, which was reflected in the one-year, $7-million deal to which they officially signed him Wednesday.

“Just feel like he’s a really good hitter who works a very professional at-bat,” said Andrew Friedman, the team’s president of baseball operations.

Utley, who turns 37 next week, batted a career-low .212 this year. Friedman pointed to the turnaround Utley made after returning to the Philadelphia Phillies from the disabled list in August. As for why Utley batted only .202 after his trade to the Dodgers that month, Friedman attributed it to misfortune.

Friedman explained Utley’s defense, baserunning and new-found versatility could benefit the Dodgers. A career-long second baseman, played three games at third base last year. In addition to playing second base, he could be insurance for third Justin Turner, who is recovering from a knee operation.

Speaking on a conference call, Utley said it was “an easy decision” to re-sign with the Dodgers.

“I want to be a part of what they’re doing,” Utley said.

Asked what kind of offensive player he could be at this stage of his career, Utley replied, “I’ve never really put numbers on the expectations or what I feel I can do.”

He added, “Obviously, staying healthy is important to me.”

Utley said he has started an off-season training program to help him do that.

Can Utley’s body hold up enough to allow him to be an everyday player?

“That is obviously the goal of my preparation,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. I’d like to play as much as possible.”

The more likely scenario is that the left-handed-hitting Utley shares playing time at second base with the right-handed-hitting Enrique Hernandez or Jose Peraza.

Utley is still facing a two-game suspension resulting from his takeout slide of New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada in a National League division series.

Because his appeal couldn’t be heard before the series concluded, he didn’t miss any postseason games. Utley said he is uncertain of when his appeal will be heard.

Utley defended his slide, saying, “I thought I made a hard, aggressive slide to break up a double play in the playoff game.”

He otherwise declined to speak of the play, saying doing so before his hearing would be inappropriate.

Of the boos he received at Citi Field in the series, Utley said, “Playing in Philadelphia for so many years, we’ve always had a big rivalry against the Mets. Whether it was me or Jimmy [Rollins] or Ryan Howard, they weren’t too nice to us back then. In that aspect, it wasn’t too different.”