Major League Baseball Trade Rumors: Chase Utley Drawing Interest From San Francisco Giants

The Phillies reportedly placed Utley on waivers on Sunday, which would mean that his waiver period would come to an end today. If Utley is claimed, the Phillies can try and work out a trade with that team or keep Utley by pulling him off waivers.

The 36-year-old has not publicly commented on whether he wants to stay in Philadelphia, but he can veto any deal because of 10-and-5 rights – 10 years of service and the past five with the same team. The Phillies have missed their window to get a meaningful return in a trade for second baseman Chase Utley, and are now trying to trade him for whatever they can get. He’s having a miserable season, going into last night’s game with a.179/.256/.274 (42 wRC+) batting line and four homers in 66 games. If he clears waivers he can be traded to any Major League Baseball club.

The Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs all had scouts present to watch Utley play in the Phillies’ 13-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. That said, it looks like he’s toast, and I’m not sure why the Phillies would move him anyway. Through two games, Utley has seen nine at-bats, collected three hits, scored two runs and batted 333.

Given Utley’s struggles at the plate before his injury – the veteran was hitting an ugly. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told WIP-FM (94.1) on Tuesday that it is “very possible” Utley will finish the season with the Phillies. Now, the Phillies are allowed to eat some of that money in a potential transaction. If Panik returns Utley is veteran insurance for the postseason, and a potentially valuable hitter off the bench.

These contenders would be wise to kick the tires on Utley, who’s had a horrific 2015 but may be revitalized by a pennant chase. The extra base hits Utley has delivered have been key in showing that he’s still capable of driving the ball and that perhaps the ankle hampered him more than he let on.

As the trade deadline neared, ESPN 1500’s Darren Wolfson tweeted about rumored talks between Minnesota and San Diego that involved Ricky Nolasco heading to the Padres while the Twins would “take back good money”, which led many to assume James Shields was part of those discussions.