David Freese agrees to return to Dodgers on a one-year, $ 5 million contract

David Freese is back at the Los Angeles Dodgers with a one-year, $ 5 million contract, according to ESPN and several reports.

The defending National League champions had a $ 6 million option on the 35-year-old, who joined the team in August after an exchange of Pittsburgh Pirates. The team did not exercise the option and Freese instead received a $ 500,000 buyback and a new $ 4.5 million contract.

Freese was 8-in-20 with two home runs, six RBIs and a walk in 14 playoff games while peloton at first base. While Chase Utley has just retired, Freese will assume the role of veteran in the clubhouse of the Dodgers team which has been eliminated twice in the World Series.

Freese can fill at third and first base and the Dodgers rate his bat against lefties.

The Dodgers remain in negotiations with Clayton Kershaw 's ace. According to baseball president Andrew Friedman, talks with Kershaw camp are "always enjoyable".

The three winners of the NL Cy Young Award and the team agreed to extend Kershaw's withdrawal deadline from 40:00 to 16:00. And Friday.

Alden Gonzalez of ESPN contributed to this report.