Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is on the comeback trail. Having spent the last five weeks on the disabled list with inflammation in his ankle, Utley is ready to play live baseball. Utley heads to the Lehigh Valley to suit up for the IronPigs on Sunday. Greg Joyce of the Easton Express Times reported the move.
Utley batted just .179 for the big league club prior to exiting the roster on June 23. After missing some time in Spring Training with a sprained ankle, Utley never seemed like his old self. The move to the disabled list even surprised his then-manager Ryne Sandberg, who had no idea that Utley was even injured.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. ruffled some feathers during Utley's disabled list stint when he essentially declared Cesar Hernandez the starting second baseman. Hernandez continues to play well, and has seemingly taken on the role of leadoff hitter due to his ability to get on base and steal bases. Whenever Utley returns, Interim Manager Pete Mackanin will have some tough decisions to make.
Utley will play with the IronPigs Sunday, but the team is set to travel to Norfolk for Monday's game. Utley probably will not make the trip. Reading is off on Monday, but Utley could join the Reading Fightin' Phils in Trenton for a three-game series that begins on Tuesday evening.
Once Utley is healthy, he could be a candidate to be traded by the waiver trade deadline on August 31. Once Utley clears waivers, the Phillies could give Utley the option to chase a place off spot with a contender. Utley and his $15 million salary is not likely to be claimed.
