Report: Chase Utley wants to go to a West Coast contender, but the Angels are “out”

Time could be running out for the Phillies if they hope to trade second baseman Chase Utley, as we noted earlier Sunday.   Two pieces Sunday afternoon questioned whether or not Utley would be traded at all.  Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports suggested that Utley could stay put, with one deal having fallen through and Utley preferring the West Coast.   Jon Heyman of CBS Sports still finds a deal to be likely.

Rosenthal reports that a deal appears to have fallen through with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but they may now be "out" on Utley.

The Angels thought they had a deal with the Phillies for Utley on Friday, reported MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez. But sources suggested on Saturday that the Angels were pessimistic about their chances of landing the second baseman, with one going so far as to say they were “out.”

What could have gone wrong?  It could have been anything: ownership backing out, Utley not willing to go, or medical information.

Could Utley stay in Philly?  Jon Heyman of CBS Sports thinks it's "less likely" than being moved:

While staying in Philly can't be ruled out, that would seem to be a less likely possibility considering two California teams like him to help their pennant chances very much. Utley is 13 for 26 since his return from the DL, and while he's played primarily second base in his storied career, he can also play first or third, or of course DH.

Utley could play third, eh?  That did not go so well in 2002 in Scranton-Wilkes Barre:

Nonetheless, Utley is versatile enough to help plenty of teams.  And the Giants and Angels alike have some versatile players who could move to another position.

While the Cubs and Yankees are frequently mentioned as good fits for Utley in terms of playing time and playoff likelihood, a West Coast contender with playing time guaranteed appears to be what Utley is willing to do.   Are those demands too strong to let a deal happen?  Hopefully we will know sooner than later.