Chase Utley has been on the disabled list for the Phillies for about two weeks and may not be activated until late July or even August. Upon his return, there might not be regular at-bats for him the former franchise cornerstone, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters (including Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com). Asked if Utley is still the team’s starting second baseman, Amaro candidly replied: “Not for me he’s not. Cesar Hernandez is our best second baseman. I would assume that Cesar would be our second baseman. I think that’s fair.”
That news carries more significance than it would for most veteran players being surpassed by a younger option, because Utley has a vesting option on his contract that is based on plate appearances. As things stand right now, Utley is just shy of halfway to the required 500 plate appearances he’d need for a $15MM vesting option to trigger. His 249 plate appearances have been accumulated in 65 games, and there was a chance that Utley could have reached 500 PAs with a late July return. Amaro did mention that Utley could see some time at first base, but it seems that Hernandez’s strong play at second base will prevent Utley’s option from vesting.
Details surrounding Utley’s option are somewhat nebulous, but if it does not vest, the option will be a club option valued at somewhere between $5MM and $11MM based on the number of days that Utley spent on the disabled list in 2015. That will leave the Phillies with an interesting choice; they’ll be tasked with deciding whether or not to bring back a player that has been one of the faces of the franchise for the better part of a decade at somewhat of a discounted rate or buy him out for $2MM.
Of course, Utley’s play to this point hasn’t been up to his standards, nor has it been worth even $5MM. The six-time All-Star has batted just .179/.257/.275 with four homers in his 249 plate appearances this season. His defense, as one would expect of a 36-year-old with a history of knee issues, has declined as well.
Hernandez, on the other hand, entered play today hitting .302/.385/.385 with a homer and a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen base chances. Defensive metrics are down on his work at second base, and he’s also benefited from a lofty .363 BABIP. Still, Hernandez’s baserunning prowess, keen eye at the plate and excellent contact skills give the Phillies reason to be intrigued by the 25-year-old beyond the financial implications of the decision.
Utley doesn’t have a place on the field anymore for the Phillies, but how about moving him into the front office replacing a guy named Ruben as GM?
He and Howard could share ABs at 1B, along with Utley getting some ABs at 2B.
Not surprising. They need Utley to walk away from Philadelphia, and Cesar has been getting the job done. His BABIP is inflated for the same reason Dee Gordon’s is. Speed. Cesar is a guy who seems to beat out routine grounders to 2B/SS with consistency. I don’t see Cesar as a long-term solution, but certainly a good guy to have out their for the time being until the long-term solution comes along.
Rangers trade Chi Chi, Hanser Alberto (could be future 2b or SS for them), Mazara, + a few low key prospects for Hamels (and Paplebon?) + cash? Seems like a win/win to me.
I surely would consider such a return. Chi Chi and Mazara are a good start.
Mac and the gang are going to be really upset about Utley being treated this way.. Maybe now he can finally get that catch in that he has been asking Utley to do for years..
This is the best comment ever. Gotta appreciate an always sunny reference!
Utley to Royals or Cardinals?
If the Phillies ate some money, I could see the Cardinals interested as a short-term 1B. Don’t see the Royals biting because Infante is signed for 2.5 more years.
Utley has practically no trade value at the moment. If he was still decent enough defensively to play 2B a team could justify taking him on and hoping he finds a spark offensively. A .530OPS 1B isn’t worth it.
Nobody is going to touch him unless he somehow turns around his season.
You completely negated the fact that Infante was ALMOST an allstar game starter LOL
I’m not sure the Royals want that option vesting on their watch. Phillies would need to pay for it to go away.
The problem is the Phillies problems go a lot deeper than Utley playing second base. Although on a positive note, I really like their third baseman Franco.
He is going to be a good ball player.for the Phillies. I like him a lot.
New commenting system! Thank you.
Amaro Then: “I don’t tell the manager how to do his lineup.”
—
Amaro Now: “Not for me he’s not.”
As they say ‘Out with the old in with the nucleus’
“Look at that jerk! He dropped his notes!!!!”
I have to say it is the truth that Utley is no longer the best 2B on that team (How much of that could be due to his knees or other injuries none of us know, and Chase will never admit it) but this is not the way to handle your players, especially face of the franchise type players. In the past year he has told people the team is better off without Ryan Howard, and that Chase Utley is not the best 2B on the team… This should be in private and not being broadcast throughout the world. Both of those statements were true. Amaro just needs to learn how to handle his public comments, or rather which comments should be made in public.
People would find Amaro refreshingly honest if they didn’t view him as so horrible at his job.
In his day, Utley was one of the best players in MLB. But he’s six years removed from that. He’s at best a role player and hardly worth $15 million next year. The Phils are horrible and it’s time to move on.