Chase Utley's suspension for vicious slide overturned

Chase Utley’s two-game suspension for a takeout slide that resulted in a broken leg, and then a rule change, was overturned on appeal and Utley will be eligible for the start of the 2016 season.

Utley, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ veteran second baseman, received a two-game suspension for a late, and most believe vicious, slide in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. He took out New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, who suffered a broken leg on the play, and the Dodgers went on to win Game 2.

Last month, Major League Baseball and the players’ association agreed to outlaw “rolling blocks” and other potentially injurious attempts to upend middle infielders that are attempting to turn a double play. MLB imposed a two-game suspension on Utley before Game 3 of the NLDS, but Utley appealed and it was determined the language in the previous rule was too vague to uphold Utley’s suspension.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters Sunday that he’s merely glad the rule has been changed, and Tejada said he “only cared about me.”

“I’m healthy here,” Tejada said Sunday, according to ESPN, “I’m happy here and I don’t care about their decision.”

Tejada, 26, is healthy and working out at the club’s Port St. Lucie, Fla., training base but could face a long battle to make the major league roster after the acquisitions of Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera. He has a non-guaranteed, $3 million salary for 2016.