Dodgers to acquire veteran 2B Chase Utley from Phillies
— -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a deal to acquire veteran second baseman Chase Utley from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for two minor leaguers, according to a source.
The deal, which should be done "within 24 hours," according to the source, was first reported by CBSSports.com.
The move comes a day after Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Utley was likely to stay in Philadelphia for the remainder of the season.
Utley, who grew up in nearby Long Beach, has full no-trade protection and reportedly expressed his preference to play in Los Angeles. Reports linked Utley to the Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs at various times.
Presuming the deal is made official, Utley will be paired again with longtime double-play partner Jimmy Rollins, who the Phillies traded to the Dodgers for a pair of pitching prospects at last December's winter meetings.
Rollins said he has had conversations with Utley as trade rumors have swirled for a couple of weeks.
"I think it'd be a lot of fun," Rollins said. "One, that was his team. He went to school over at UCLA, plays well over at Dodger Stadium. Actually, beats up the Dodgers wearing a Phillies uniform. If everything goes through and he's here, it'd be nice to see him playing some home games there at a place he's comfortable hitting."
Utley, 36, is batting .217 but is 15-for-31 since returning from a right ankle injury. He was not in Philadelphia's starting lineup Wednesday night.
A left hamstring injury to starting second baseman Howie Kendrick augmented the Dodgers' interest in Utley, though utility player Enrique Hernandez has filled in well, batting .455 in five games. The acquisition of Utley allows the Dodgers to use Hernandez at various positions, including center field in order to spell slumping rookie Joc Pederson, particularly against left-handed pitchers. Utley is also expected to see time at the corner infield positions when Kendrick returns.
According to the source, the Dodgers will receive $4 million from Philadelphia to offset the $6 million remaining on Utley's $15 million salary. He will be a free agent in November, as will Kendrick and Rollins.
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