The celebrity website TMZ.com is reporting that Dodgers first baseman James Loney was arrested last month after his Maserati hit three other cars. TMZ says:

Loney -- who plays 1st base for the Dodgers -- was arrested on November 14th ... because cops say he appeared to be under the influence of drugs after he swerved into a Toyota around 6pm ... and then careened into a Mercedes and a Mini.

According to the report, when cops first arrived to the scene ... Loney told one of the officers, "The bitch hit me from behind."

Cops say Loney appeared to be "restless, unsteady, aggressive and irritable" ... and he "exhibited eyelid tremors and his shirt was soiled and moist from perspiration, from his armpits down to his waistline."

Cops say when officers asked Loney what day it was ... he replied, "7/15 and Saturday" -- when in fact, it was 11/14 and Monday.

The TMZ article says that Loney was not formally booked and that a blood sample came back "negative" for drugs or alcohol, but that the L.A. County state's attorney's office continues to investigate.

Further, Ken Gurnick of dodgers.com points out:

The report came five days before the Dodgers are required -- and were expected -- to tender Loney a contract or allow him to become a free agent. He would likely earn roughly $6 million through the arbitration process and is eligible for free agency after the 2012 season.

Gurnick writes that Juan Rivera or Jerry Sands were being considered to back up Loney in 2012; The 24-year-old Sands hit .253/.338/.389 in 227 PA for the Dodgers in his rookie year in 2011 and hit for considerable power in the minor leagues.

As always, we await further developments.