After playing his entire MLB career in Philadelphia until mere months ago, free-agent second baseman Chase Utley reportedly wants to stay with his most recent team—or at least in the same state.
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Report: Dodgers, Angels Interested in Utley
Thursday, Dec. 3
Jayson Stark of ESPN reported that both Los Angeles clubs want the 36-year-old veteran, who was traded from the Phillies to the Dodgers in August. ESPN’s Mark Saxon reported recently the Dodgers covet Utley as a left-handed batter and backup infielder.
Utley appeared in 34 games for L.A. and struggled en route to a .202 batting average in that span. In 107 contests this past season, he accrued an average of .212 with eight home runs and 39 RBI.
Despite Utley’s down year, Stark reported that he has other unnamed suitors on the open market but would rather remain in the Golden State. Philadelphia had the worst record in all of baseball in 2015, which didn’t help his cause and played a role in his decline.
There’s no shortage of talent on the Dodgers and Angels, who won 92 and 85 games, respectively, in 2015. Both could use a veteran presence in the clubhouse like Utley with World Series experience.
With little time left as a player, the six-time All-Star is certainly thinking on the right track if he wants a shot at a second Commissioner’s Trophy.
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