It’s The End Of An Era
The Los Angeles Dodgers are nearing a trade to acquire life time Philadelphia Phillies 2nd Baseman Chase Utley. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com was the first to report the news.
Sources: Phillies, Dodgers moving closer to deal for Chase Utley. Nothing finalized. https://t.co/SbygZUsEEd
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) August 19, 2015
It appears a deal will eventually be reached as the deal for Jimmy Rollins is likely a good base line for what Philadelphia will receive in return. The Phillies have made it known in the past that a package including two mid level prospects was necessary for any Utley deal. The Dodgers will also facilitate in salary relief as they have done in the past.
The deal for Los Angeles Dodgers needed to make a move after losing incumbent second basemen Howie Kendrick to a hamstring injury. The deal also allows Utley to reunite with Jimmy Rollins as the two spent a vast majority of their careers together in Philadelphia. Utley, 36, is a LA native and always prefered a west coast destination if he were to be traded.
For Philadelphia the inevital rebuild continues as Utley was one of the few remaining Phillies from the 2008 championship team. Utley did have a vesting option if he reached 500 plate appearances but it appears he will fall well short becoming a free agent following the conclusion of the season. The eventual hope for Philadelphia is that J.P. Crawford can become the eventual short-stop with Freddy Galvis sliding over to 2nd. Having the worst record in baseball may not be such a bad thing is the Phillies can grab a talented prospect in next year’s amateur draft. Carlos Correa, Gerrit Cole, and Bryce Harper have been examples of this in recent years.
