Dodgers Quick Hits: Kenta Maeda, Chase Utley, QO Deadline

The Dodgers and the rest of the baseball world are in a holding pattern until 2018 free agents decide whether to accept or decline the qualifying offer.

Sometime in the next day, the Dodgers will find out whether Yasmani Grandal or Hyun-Jin Ryu are going to accept or decline the qualifying offer.  Should either accept, they would return to the Dodgers on a one year deal worth 17.9 million dollars.  If they leave and sign with another team the Dodgers would get draft pick compensation.

The deadline to accept the QO is Monday November 12th at 2 PM west coast time.  Of the Dodgers’ two players to receive an offer, Hyun-Jin Ryu is most likely to accept it since he wants to return to LA and he has been plagued by injuries which could limit his market.  Yasmani Grandal is a near lock to decline the offer since he is one of the top free agent catchers and he will cash in on a multi year contract.

Other news…

More from LA Dodgers News

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• Dodgers’ 2023 lineup without Trea Turner isn’t as impressive as it should be

• Kenta Maeda is returning to Japan to make an appearance in his former home of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.  Maeda is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday as the Japan All-Star series shifts to a brief appearance in Hiroshima.  Kenta pitched eight seasons for the Carp and is sure to get a great ovation when he returns to the mound there.
• Chase Utley was given his release on Friday to finalize his retirement from Major League Baseball.  While many have suggested Utley being a coach for the Dodgers, that seems very unlikely.  The main reason that Chase retired was to spend more time with his family, which being a coach would conflict with.
• Keibert Ruiz is having a solid AFL season playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs as he is currently hitting .286 with nine RBI’s.  Teammate and Dodger farmhand Cody Thomas has had a rough season in the AFL, hitting below .150.  The fall league will conclude next Saturday with the championship game.

• The Dodgers’ extension with Dave Roberts remains on hold as the Dodgers address other immediate issues like qualyfing offers, third base coach, and hitting coach.  The Dodgers exercised Roberts 2019 option so they do technically have Dave under contract for the 2019 season.  An extension should be coming before the new year.