Fansided

Chase Utley being sent to Dodgers, per report

By Matt Verderame

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; National League infielder Chase Utley (26) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a RBI double in the second inning during the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; National League infielder Chase Utley (26) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a RBI double in the second inning during the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Philadelphia Phillies are on the verge of trading future Hall of Fame second baseman Chase Utley to the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The Dodgers would be sending back a pair of minor leaguers while receiving $2 million from the Phillies.

Next: Best Starting Pitchers in MLB History

Utley, 36, has enjoyed a brilliant career since breaking into the major leagues with the Phillies in 2003. Utley won a World Series ring in 2007 with Philadelphia and reached another World Series in 2008, being one of the pivotal bats in the lineup along with Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. Throughout his career, Utley is batting .282 with 233 home runs, 346 doubles and 916 RBI.

However, Utley has been terrible in 2015, hitting .217 with five home runs and 30 RBI in 249 at-bats. With the Dodgers, Utley will likely play second base until Howie Kendrick comes off the disable list, at which point Utley will go to the bench. In theory, Utley can provide a break for Kendrick when Los Angeles faces a right-handed pitcher, but his on-base percentage is actually worse in those situations this year (.289 vs. .282).

After years of holding onto an aging core, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has finally decided to blow up the roster by deal Cole Hamels in late July and now Utley. Utley will join former teammate and shortstop Jimmy Rollins with the Dodgers, who currently lead the National League West. If the playoffs began today, Los Angeles would be the second seed and face the New York Mets.

This is one of those situations where a great player has one more chance to win a ring. Perhaps Utley and Rollins can celebrate one more time, albeit as bit pieces on a team half a world away from Philadelphia.

Home/Los Angeles Dodgers