Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Chris Heisey cleared outright waivers and Friday elected to become a free agent, according to Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA.
Heisey would’ve been arbitration-eligible had he remained on the team’s 40-man roster and likely would’ve earned a raise from the $2.16 million he earned in 2015, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
The 30-year-old outfielder began the season with the Dodgers, was designated for assignment in July, signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in August and then was traded back to the Dodgers in September.
He played in just 33 games for the Dodgers last season, hitting .182 with 12 hits in 72 plate appearances, and spent most of the season in Triple-A, tallying 83 games between the Dodgers and Blue Jays affiliates.
Though a talented defender, Heisey didn’t stand much chance in the crowded Dodgers outfield with the likes of Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford, even though each either struggled or missed time due to injury.
The Dodgers won their third straight National League West title for the first time in franchise history in 2015. But another early exit in the postseason, this time in five games at the hands of the New York Mets in the National League Division Series, prompted a mutual parting between Dodgers brass and manager Don Mattingly, who has since signed with the Miami Marlins.
Given Heisey’s veteran status—he spent five years with the Cincinnati Reds and is a career .245 hitter—he should find a suitor, though it may be on a minor league deal.
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