Trade rumors engulfed Philadelphia Phillies' second baseman Chase Utley for a while, but his ankle injury prevented him from being dealt before the non-waiver deadline. Will he be moved before the Aug. 31 waiver deadline?
Phillies' general manager Ruben Amaro spoke with Howard Eskin of SportsRadio 94WIP this morning and talked about Utley's situation with the team. After trading a number of the team's veterans in the offseason and before the non-waiver deadline, Amaro no longer seems to be considering Utley as a trade candidate this month.
"As I told you before, it is very likely he'll be here in Philadelphia through the end of the year and then we'll see what happens after that," Amaro said on the radio show, via CBS Philly.
Amaro would not comment on the trade offers he has received for Utley or the veteran's preferred destination in the event he were to be traded. It was previously mentioned the San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels and others were interested in acquiring Utley. The Giants and Angels were said to have made offers to the Phillies, but nothing has come to fruition.
Utley missed over a month and a half due to an ankle injury and was batting just .179 in 72 games. However, since his return on Aug. 7, the 36-year-old is batting .500 with four runs scored, one home run and five RBIs in seven games.
His mini offensive revival has made him a viable option for postseason contenders looking for infield depth or a reliable designated hitter. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported over the weekend that Utley would preferred to be traded to a West Coast contender after talking with a couple executives involved in the trade discussions.
"The right fit, however, might not emerge, given the complexities of satisfying Utley, the Phillies and the acquiring club in a trade, and the financial issues that must be resolved," Rosenthal added.
However, the waiver deadline is less than two weeks away, so don't rule out any deal for Utley just yet.
