Section 215
Fansided

Phillies News: Giants GM Confirms that Offer has Been Made for Chase Utley

By Somers Price

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The Phillies had the night off on Thursday, but that did not stop the Chase Utley news-mill from continuing to turn. Chris Haft, who covers the San Francisco Giants for MLB.com, relayed some information regarding the team that has been most often rumored to be interested in acquiring the veteran second baseman.

The defending World Series champions have been playing without everyday second baseman Joe Panik since he sustained an injury earlier this season. The Giants currently trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 3.5 games for first place in the National League West and area 5 games back of the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card spot for the National League’s play-in game. Though the Giants are as well-seasoned a team as any in terms of late season baseball, injuries may force them to make a move such as acquiring Utley should they hope to return to the postseason.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com also provided some interesting context to some of the factors that will go into a team’s eventual decision to acquire Utley and what type of role the Phillies may have to play in terms of facilitating the process.

The Phillies finally seem committed to the overhaul of their roster. It is hard to imagine they would pass up the opportunity to send Utley off if they were getting anywhere close to what they consider market value. Utley, who spends a good amount of time on the west coast, would have to waive his no trade clause to go to any potential suitor.

Update 10:55 p.m.

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki says the Giants aren’t the only team that has made an offer on Chase Utley.

"Sources told MLB.com on Thursday night that several teams have made offers for Utley, although no deal is imminent.The Giants are just one of those teams. San Francisco general manager Bobby Evans confirmed to MLB.com that his team has made an offer. The Cubs, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees also have pursued himOne source made one thing clear on Thursday: Everything is in Utley’s hands. He has 10-and-5 no-trade rights, so he can be traded only if he wants to be. If he prefers a particular team, he can steer the Phillies toward that team. If he does not like what he sees or hears, he can say no."

Update 8/14 12:53

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the Giants are the ‘most likely landing-spot’ for Utley.

"he Giants scouted the Phillies (and specifically Chase Utley) six straight games in his return, and they look at least for the moment like the most-likely landing spot for Utley now. Utley, a Bay Area resident whose wife is from the region, would on the surface seem to be very likely to waive his no-trade capability to go to the Giants though there’s no word he’s committed to it yet. He did clear waivers, as was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, so he could be traded anywhere – provided he approves ."

Next: Giants Reportedly in Advanced Talks for Chase Utley

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