Chase Utley is not the typical second baseman. He provides a unique blend of power, like 30+ home run power, and speed, as in three seasons with 15+ steals. Sure the speed isn’t all that uncommon with second basemen, but the power is.
And now, a team in a powerless position, headed by a man who’s let the power go to his head, trades their star second baseman, a consistent source of power, to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with $2 million, in exchange for two prospects.
The Dodgers need for Utley only became apparent after starter Howie Kendrick landed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Justin Turner and Alex Guerrero have done a formidable job as replacements, but Turner is better at third, which allow Utley to play second, relegating Guerrero to bench duties.
Kendrick was batting .296 with 20 doubles and nine home runs in 105 games.
Utley, on the other hand, has been plagued by injury yet again, only appearing in 73 games thus far. During that time, he’s batted .217 with just five home runs.
It hasn’t been all bad for Utley however. Over his last 15 games, he’s batting .321 with a .361 OBP and 5 RBIs, trying to turn a round a dismal season.
Chase Utley’s tenure in Philadelphia spanned 13 seasons, saw him win a World Series, make it to one more, lead the league in runs, and be named an All-Star six times.
He leaves the Phillies with 1623 hits, 233 home runs, a spot in the top-10 in nearly all major offensive categories in team history and a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten in Philadelphia after 1551 games for the home club, and at least one memorable October/November.
If the Dodgers were going to acquire any second baseman in the back half of their career, they were right in acquiring Chase Utley for the stretch run and post-season.
