When Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick limped off the field with an apparent hamstring injury last Sunday in Pittsburgh, ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the Dodgers could go after Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Chase Utley as a replacement.
Yet as time went on, the probability of Utley returning to LA seemed more likely to occur in an Angels uniform than a Dodgers one. Then on Wednesday, the team with the highest payroll in baseball pulled off the unexpected heist and traded two minor leaguers for the former World Series champion.
BREAKING NEWS: #Dodgers have acquired second baseman Chase Utley from #Phillies for cash and 2 minor leaguers — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) August 19, 2015
However, the 36-year old second baseman is batting a career-low .217 this season and has battled knee and ankle injuries for the better part of three seasons. He was on the disabled list in Philadelphia for the better part of two months, and only just recently returned to the team.
"When he's healthy, he's still one of the best hitters in the game," Dodgers' General Manager Farhan Zaidi said. "I don't think he's a guy that's going to come in and play 42 straight games at the end of the season."
Nevertheless, Zaidi still believes that Utley is an iconic player with one of the best bats in the game. Since being recalled from the disabled list, Utley has 15 hits in just 31 at-bats including a home run.
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Utley is expected to immediately start at second base on Friday in the opening game of a three-game series against the Houston Astros. Presumably, the Dodgers will take their time with Kendrick and his hamstring injury allowing him ample recovery and rest, while playing Utley as much as they can.
Despite playing well in Kendrick's absence, super utility player Kiké Hernandez will head to the bench, back to his regular utility role. Utley is an upgrade over Hernandez in the long run, especially with his experience and baseball acumen over the final few weeks of the season.
One of the biggest benefits to acquiring Utley is that it keeps him out of the hands of the rival San Francisco Giants. On Wednesday, Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the media that second baseman Joe Panik would be out at least a month. It was no secret that San Francisco was interested in Utley, and the Dodgers stealing him, could be just enough to keep them in first place down the stretch in the NL West.
Cynics will look at Utley's season numbers and say he is in serious decline, if not, his career likely over. However, those same people were saying the same thing about his long-time, middle infield mate, Jimmy Rollins. Rollins is now riding high since the All-Star break, and has solidified his role in the leadoff spot.
Utley, appears to be healthy and his riding an eight-game hitting streak, batting .484 with five doubles and a homer over that span.
"He's making consistently hard contact. We think he's gotten over some of the health issues he's gone through earlier, and when he's healthy he's one of the best hitters in the game," Zaidi continued. "His quality of at-bats has been near the top of the league. We made it a point to stack our lineup with players who have quality at-bats."
It's no secret the Dodgers need help on offense and a permanent fixture at second base while Kendrick is nursing his hamstring injury. Hernandez is swinging a hot bat, but could still see time in the outfield, at shortstop, or at third base. Utley could as well when Kendrick returns. At the end of the day, with the two NL Wild Card spots currently solidified by two NL Central teams, it's likely that whichever team does not win the NL West will miss the playoffs entirely.
If Los Angeles can catch lightning in a bottle, and get two-to-three great weeks out of Utley, it could be just enough to put them over the top and into an NLDS matchup with the New York Mets.
