Dodgers to sign free agent Iwakuma

Free agents Chase Utley and Hisashi Iwakuma reportedly have contracts in place with the Dodgers pending physicals, while a trade to acquire Aroldis Chapman was reportedly gaining steam Sunday and could blow the lid off an already busy Hot Stove season.

Yes, the Dodgers are casting a wide net to kick off the Winter Meetings. Iwakuma was limited last season with a finger injury.

Chapman had a 1.94 ERA, 33 saves in 36 chances and 116 strikeouts in 66 innings last season. There are several Seattle Mariners rumors about the team extending a free agent offer, but that the Dodgers have topped it in dollar amount. Over four years in the MLB, Iwakuma has posted an outstanding 3.17 ERA with Seattle from 2012-2015, including an outstanding 2013 campaign where he finished 14-6 with a third place finish in American League Cy Young Award voting.

Iwakuma, 34, would help make up for the loss of Greinke in a rotation that is headed by superstar left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

The signing may not be the big market acquisition the Dodgers were initially targeting this offseason, but Iwakuma’s addition gives the Dodgers a reliable middle of the rotation starter that has proven to be a consistent and effective performer in one of baseball’s most offensively dominant divisions.

A six-time All-Star, Utley hit a career-worst.

Right-handed reliever Ryan Madson, who won a World Series this past season playing for the Kansas City Royals and won another playing with Utley on the 2008 Phillies, signed a three-year, -million contract with the Oakland Athletics.

There were media reports over the weekend that the Baltimore Orioles agreed to bring back Darren O’Day, but later the pitcher refuted those reports, calling them “premature.”. The Mariners may have lost Iwakuma to the LA Dodgers if rumors about the situation are confirmed.