The response to trade talk surrounding second baseman Chase Utley is a very emotional one for some fans. One of the most popular Phillies in baseball history will be tough to lose. But as we saw the Chicago Cubs do, they cashed out every asset they had and let the talented prospects rise to the top. For the Phillies to maximize the potential for the future, they must do the same. And they had better act fast.
The Phillies will not re-sign Chase Utley in the offseason. There is simply nowhere for Utley to play, unless the Phillies somehow remove first baseman Ryan Howard from the equation. But Howard probably will be with the Phillies to start 2016; maybe this time next year the Phillies can ship Howard away in a trade. But the Phillies need second base for their young talent to play. Had Utley stated that he would retire at season's end, the Phillies could make a case for keeping him and letting him retire as a Phillie.
But Utley will play somewhere in 2016, so the Phillies might as well move him now and get something for him. There is indeed value in having a player with the Phillies for his whole career. Since Utley will not be doing that anyway, this is the team's one chance to get something for him. And the longer the acquiring team has him, the more they might be willing to give up. Just six weeks remain in the 2015 regular season.
Some of the teams interested in Utley, most notably the San Francisco Giants, have an immediate need that might not be there if the Phillies wait. The Giants are the only team whose general manager is openly stating that the team wishes to acquire Utley. Injured second baseman Joe Panik is set to return after September 1. If Panik looks healthy as he nears a return and Utley is still a member of the Phillies, the Giants might think twice.
Then of course, Utley cannot possibly continue to look as good as he does right now. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin called Utley "rejuvenated" (in this Matt Breen piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer) and even found praise for Utley being "aggressive" when Utley was thrown out trying to steal. Since Utley was reinstated, he is batting an even .500 with five doubles and a home run. That makes for a 1.308 OPS. Scouts are watching Utley and he only looks good. The Phillies cannot wait until that subsides.
With scouts from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Chicago Cubs present and the interest from the San Francisco Giants and reportedly the Houston Astros there appear to be plenty of suitors. Chances are, Utley has already told the Phillies which teams he would accept a trade. The Phillies could let the teams know they are ready for their best offers and make something happen before the Phillies come home on Tuesday.
Darren Daulton won a World Series with the Marlins prior to retiring, though we almost forget that. Daulton will always be a Phillie first and foremost and so will Chase Utley.
