According to a report from Howard Eskin, Phillies’ GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told SportsRadio 94 WIP in Philadelphia Tuesday morning that Chase Utley is “likely to be with the Phillies for the rest of the year.”
As Jim Salisbury pointed out Amaro Jr. also said the same about Cole Hamels before he was traded to the Rangers. But if Utley is not going to be traded, it would appear the reason is that he would not approve a deal to a contending team.
Jim Duquette has reported numerous times Chase Utley has rejected trades to contenders three different times … and this could be the fourth time Utley has exercised his no-trade rights.
At least three teams made an offer for Chase Utley. The Cubs, Giants and Angels made an attempt to acquire Utley. The Angels were close enough last Friday they thought a deal would get done. While the Cubs have not confirmed making an offer for Utley, Giants’ GM Bobby Evans told the team’s beat writers last Thursday a deal was on the table for the veteran second baseman.
The Dodgers, Yankees and Astros have also been connected to Utley, who has produced at the plate since he returned from the disabled list like a player that wanted to be traded.
The Phillies would like to deal Utley, but it is a complicated matter as Ken Rosenthal reported. Teams are not willing to give up what the Phillies expect in return for Utley while he is owed a significant amount of money for the rest of this season, plus a $2 million buyout on a club option for the 2016 season.
The Phillies open a two-game series with the Blue Jays in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. And reports pointed to Tuesday as being somewhat of a deadline for the Phillies to either trade Chase Utley or keep him with the team for the remainder of the season.
It is unclear if Ruben Amaro Jr. is using his weekly radio spot as a way to speed up the negotiations or if Chase Utley invoked his no-trade rights and will indeed stay in Philly for at least the next six-plus weeks.
Will update as additional information becomes available …
• Full Report from Ken Rosenthal