Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: Team ‘Moving Closer’ To Trade For Chase Utley

Chase Utley

UPDATE (Au. 19, 7:43 p.m. PT) Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that the deal is done:



UPDATE (Aug. 19, 4:15 p.m. PT): While the Los Angeles Dodgers trade for Chase Utley has yet to be completed, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports Darnell Sweeney is one of the prospects who will be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies:

Sweeney was listed as the starting center fielder and leadoff batter for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday night before being scratched from the lineup.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers made one major deal at the trade deadline this season, acquiring Mat Latos, Alex Wood and others from the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves in exchange for prospects, Hector Olivera and Paco Rodriguez.

Another deadline is now approaching, as the waiver trade deadline is under two weeks away. While most deals are made in July, there are still plenty of deals made in August, including the blockbuster trade that brought the Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto. The Dodgers failed to make the postseason that year, but have made the postseason every year since. Last season, the Dodgers acquired two starting pitchers in August in Roberto Hernandez and Kevin Correia.

So far this year, the Dodgers haven’t really been linked to any names until recently. Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley cleared waivers and at first, it appeared his interest in the Dodgers was more than the Dodgers interest in Utley.

However, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Dodgers could be close to acquiring the former All-Star:

The Phillies and Dodgers are moving closer to a trade for Chase Utley, sources told MLB.com on Wednesday.

This comes a day after Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said that the team was likely going to keep Utley in Philadelphia.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting what the Phillies could be getting in return from the Dodgers:

The deal would be expected to be for a “mid-level” prospect or prospects, not very top guys. In recent talks, the Dodgers were not offering to extend Utley, whose deal runs out after the year.

Utley missed significant time this season and has played in just 73 games, hitting .217 with five home runs and 30 RBIs. He came back from injury on August 7 for the first time since late June and has hit .484 with six extra-base hits and five RBIs in eight games (seven starts).

Acquiring Utley would help fill the void left at second base by Howie Kendrick, who is out with a hamstring strain, but it would also take some playing time away from Kiké Hernandez, who has been great since Kendrick went down.

It will interesting to see how the Dodgers will handle the new infielder if a deal does indeed go down.

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Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

11 Comments

    1. Dont need leadership,The Dodgers PITCHING.Kike is playing great while Kendrick is out.Chase will only take time awayfrom Kike.

      1. In reality, Kike is a below average fielder. The plays that he makes look spectacular are as that an average 2b gets to easily. More pt would expose his deficiencies. He is more valuable as a super utility player.

  1. so unless i missed something and Chase now comes out of the bullpen, why did we make this trade? only going to have him for 2mo at a position we have players.

    1. I think this is a clear sign that Kendrick is more injured than we know. If he was really going to be back in another week or two, then there is no reason for this trade.

  2. smart move!Chase is a big game player!Which L.A. could use,and some better pitcher!!!!Get it done goddamit!!!!!!!

  3. Don’t understand this trade. We have Callaspo and Kike to play 2b. Unless they are sending Joc down and putting Kike in CF full time, it makes no sense. What we need is bullpen help. Also a RP with more than a fastball would help. Major leaguers sitting on 97 mph (Baez and Garcia) will hit them hard. Chris Hatcher was putting things back to usual when he got hurt. He needs to be in the mix…

  4. Just something I discovered analyzing Utley’s career stats…… he is the career leader [in the history of baseball], in stolen base percentage. He only averages about 10 steals a year, but the guy never gets thrown out. For whatever that’s worth. It does indicate his baseball instincts are thru the roof.

  5. Who gets moved off the 25 man roster? I mean callaspo and Guerrero are now even further down the depth chart.

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