Chase Utley was a special player. In his day, and he more accurately Dorial Green-Beckham game Jersey had many of them, he was the most elegant and powerful player on the best Philadelphia Phillies teams in decades. He was hardworking and professional, a soft-spoken leader for a franchise that started winning division titles in 2007 and continued for five years.
He’s not exactly that guy anymore. He’s 36, for one, and has played one full season in the last six. The work he’s done remains hard, but too often it has been limited to the physical rehabilitation of his various broken parts. The game wore him down at about the time it does most, and when he last went on the disabled list.
Utley, who had no-trade protection, reportedly has approved the deal. He went to high school in Long Beach, Calif., and attended UCLA before the Phillies made him their first-round pick in 2000, and so apparently returning to Southern California – and to the first-place Dodgers – appealed to him.
The Dodgers had covered for Kendrick in part with Kike Hernandez, a super-utility player who’d batted .389 with three homers and six RBI since Aug. 8. The absence of Kendrick tied Hernandez to second base, however, and so there’d be no place to hide, for one, Joc Pederson, a terrific center fielder who’s hit .160 for going on two months.
When Kendrick returns, Utley presumably becomes a backup second baseman, an occasional first and third baseman and regular pinch-hitter. He’s batted .333 in 66 career at-bats off the bench.
The 36-year-old Chase Utley has a .282 career average with 233 homers and 916 RBIs. In the 2009 World Series against the New York Yankees, he hit five home runs to tie Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson for the major league record.
''Chase is an iconic, generational player,'' general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. ''To (trade) him is not particularly gratifying but it's the best thing for all parties.''
The Philadelphia Phillies traded the six-time All-Star second baseman to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday for Triple-A outfielder Darnell Sweeney and Single-A right-hander John Richy.
Utley didn't play in the Phillies' 7-4 win over Toronto, but got a standing ovation afterward and he tipped his cap to the crowd.
''The hardest part is leaving the city of Philadelphia,'' Utley said. ''They've been so supportive of me for so long and I can't thank them enough.''
Chase Utley is reuniting with Jimmy Rollins in Hollywood.
Utley had to waive his no-trade rights to go to his hometown Dodgers and he already cleared waivers. He joins Rollins, the franchise's all-time hits leader and his double-play partner for 12 seasons. The NL West-leading Dodgers lost second baseman Howie Kendrick to a hamstring injury earlier this month.
''I think it would be a lot of fun,'' Rollins said after the Dodgers lost to Oakland earlier in the day. ''He knows this team. He went to school over at UCLA, plays well at Dodger Stadium, actually he beats up the Dodgers when in 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 that he's comfortable hitting. ... He can add a lot. Hopefully, No. 1, first and foremost, that he's healthy and he's in a good case. The way he's swung the bat since he's been playing, anyone can use that. We can definitely use it.
''He does have experience Brian Orakpo Authentic Jersey, he's a tough guy. He brings that with him. More than anything that there will be some new excitement in the clubhouse. He has a chance to play some meaningful baseball late in the year again.''
Utley is batting .217 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 249 at-bats. But he has a hit in eight straight games while batting .484 out of the leadoff spot since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 7.
Though he didn't show much of a personality and never smiled on the field, Utley is perhaps the most popular player to ever wear the red Phillies' pinstripes. His all-out hustle and tireless work ethic made him a hero in a town that reveres hard-nosed players.
''Chase Utley is the guy every kid needs to watch. He's what you want to be defined as as a ballplayer,'' Phillies closer Ken Giles said.
His status was cemented in 2006 when beloved broadcaster Harry Kalas declared: ''Chase Utley, you are the man!'' after Utley scored from second on a groundout in a game at Atlanta.
''We all know Harry was an amazing http://www.officialnfltitansprostore.com/Marcus-Mariota-Jersey person,'' Utley said. ''That slogan will follow me all over the place and I definitely appreciate that. I've always considered myself a player that plays the game hard and plays the game the right way. I don't necessarily know the definition of that, but I tried to play every game like it's my last one.''
Utley was one of a few guys to play in Philadelphia and not get booed. Former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins is another. In contrast, Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt, arguably the greatest player in team history, was vilified by fans during prolonged slumps.