On Friday it seemed like the Chase Utley era was about to end in Philadelphia. Yet, come 8:05 p.m., Utley was leading off for the Phillies and playing second base in Milwaukee. What happened to seemingly end all trade talk? A Ruben Amaro Jr. appearance on Sports Radio WIP this morning might have explained that.
Howard Eskin of Fox 29 and Sports Radio WIP tweeted:
GM Ruben Amaro this morning @SportsRadioWIP "Chase Utley likely to be w #Phillies rest of year." Definition, Utley will not approve trade.
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) August 18, 2015
That would explain Friday's near-trade-but-not-trade.
Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reported that the Angels thought they would complete a deal on Friday. Could Utley have said no, killing that trade? That very well could have been the case. Gonzalez said the Angels still hoped to add Utley, but who knows what the likelihood of that would be if Utley was not willing to go.
The news is unfortunate for the Phillies, who could have added another piece towards the team's rebuild. Unlike Cole Hamels, whom the Phillies could have kept if the deal was not right, Utley will be a free agent at the end of the season and the Phillies will miss out on an opportunity to add to the farm system.
Utley earned the rite to veto any trade by having 10 years Major League service with the most recent five years being with the same club. But besides acquiring a piece in return, the Phillies should still go forward with the rebuild and play Cesar Hernandez instead. Since Utley's return, Hernandez has seen time at second base, shortstop, and third base.
But steady at bats are what the Phillies young players need. Hopefully the Phillies will remain committed to their rebuild, even if it means Utley needs to watch the last six weeks of his career from the bench or splitting time at first base with Ryan Howard, where no one is blocked.
