Should the Angels Chase Chase?

[IEAngelsfan]

Fair warning: don't expect the future HOF field manager to snap to attention acknowledge your existence when you enter the room.

Fixed

[HaloCory22]

I've always loved Chase Utley and I'd welcome him. His defense is much better than Gio and has more pop potential. Don't know how much better he makes us though. If it was 2010 Utley I'm all on board but right now its not worth the gamble.

[UndertheHalo]

2B isn't really the problem.  LF and C is.

It's definitely a problem, just a lesser one. Gia is ****ing disaster defensively and he's not anything special with the bat.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

@JeffFletcherOCR: Chase Utley is 3 for 4 tonight. He's 10 for 21 since coming off the DL. http://t.co/BRI9ss6eob

[bloodbrother]

THE piece

[Blarg]

If Utley wants to be on the Angels the only possible reason is he knows he is headed for a career ending slump.

[tomsred]

The only reason to acquire Utley right now is if you believe he would be useful in 2016 and beyond.  I don't believe trading for anything more at this point will help 2015, there are too many holes.  

[nando714]

Fvck it. Go get him. What do we have to lose

[DMVol]

Fvck it. Go get him. What do we have to lose

I'm not sure one guy could help this offense....with Pujols slumping, there's nothing there outside of Trout....maybe Calhoun, though he's solid but not a real difference maker....

[tomsred]

What we have to lose is that it ties the hands of the next GM financially, and potentially we lose a young prospect or two.  For $15M per year, we could potentially get Howie back in 2016, and he's less injury prone.

Edited August 15, 2015 by tomsred

[Jay]

There's no one guy, but if you can make the team better do it.

[ettin]

What we have to lose is that it ties the hands of the next GM financially, and potentially we lose a young prospect or two. For 15M per year, we could potentially get Howie back in 2016, and he's less injury prone.

Tom as I stated in the article if he doesn't work out for the remainder of this year you can cut him for $2MM next season?

Also he won't cost $15MM next year because he spent time on the DL this year. His salary at most next year is about $12.8MM give or take.

On top of that if he doesn't get 500 PA's next year or each of those succeeding years the following year becomes a club option meaning we don't have to keep him.

There is little risk here. If he gets 500 PA's year over year it is because he is not injured and producing which is what we would want anyway.

Paying for a 2-3 WAR player on the free agent market is going to cost about $15MM-$25MM per year anyway?

[tomsred]

Tom as I stated in the article if he doesn't work out for the remainder of this year you can cut him for $2MM next season?

Also he won't cost $15MM next year because he spent time on the DL this year. His salary at most next year is about $12.8MM give or take.

On top of that if he doesn't get 500 PA's next year or each of those succeeding years the following year becomes a club option meaning we don't have to keep him.

There is little risk here. If he gets 500 PA's year over year it is because he is not injured and producing which is what we would want anyway.

Paying for a 2-3 WAR player on the free agent market is going to cost about $15MM-$25MM per year anyway?

 

Okay, thanks for the clarifications.  That seems to make it more attractive.  I should have re-read your opening article once again.

 

His wife is from San Francisco, and I've read reports that the four strongest suitors are the Giants, Cubs, Angels and Yankees.

Edited August 15, 2015 by tomsred

[Docwaukee]

In a heartbeat. Guy is probably bored as frack.

As an FYI, all of his peripherals are similar to his career levels except his babip is around .200. His line drive rate is 19%. Career it's around 20%. His hr rate is down.

He's a postseason beast as well

He's better than Gia. Way better. Even now. Gia has been getting lucky and he's still not that good. At he very least, chase would be a huge defensive upgrade. Let Gia come off the bench and pinch hit as mr clutch.

Pay his salary. Don't give up a player, and watch him carry this team to the playoffs.

Bat him third between trout abd Pujols. Kole leads off. Murphy 5th everyday. Even vs lefties. Let cron play when he's hot. Mix victorino in here and there. Etc etc.

This is his swan song. He's waiting for an opportunity to motivate. Let's give it to him.

[ettin]

Okay, thanks for the clarifications. That seems to make it more attractive. So what do you believe the cost would be to actually get him?

His wife is from San Francisco, and I've read reports that the four strongest suitors are the Giants, Cubs, Angels and Yankees.

I should clarify that this is my interpretation of what COTS says regarding his contract which you can all read here: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/philadelphia-phillies/

It seems pretty cut and dry but without seeing the actual contract language I have to trust what COTS is saying.

Beyond that I suggested two low-level prospects or, if the Phillies offer to absorb his remaining salary and maybe some next year (whether that is the $2MM buyout or something more) then perhaps its someone like Tyler Deloach or Nate Smith, although I don't really like the idea of Smith getting moved for Utley. Unfortunately we are in competition for his services so I'm thinking the price is going up by the day as Chase continues to rake.

Edited August 15, 2015 by ettin

[Angelsfirst]

I'm in the yes camp, as long as what we give up is reasonable. He's still got that smooth, level swing that I think could play nicely even given his age. Plus experience in the postseason.

[Waybackman]

Just say no. Please, no more past-their-prime veterans. We are the veteran graveyard. Gio is far from perfect, but we should give him a chance to develop. We are not going anywhere near the WS this year, so let's stay with what we've got and build on that.

[m0nkey]

Get him. From dena. Except he's a bruin

[Dick B Back]

Will the Phils take a 3B coach in return?

[KCal]

And this guy isn't playing every day because...

[tomsred]

I should clarify that this is my interpretation of what COTS says regarding his contract which you can all read here: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/philadelphia-phillies/

It seems pretty cut and dry but without seeing the actual contract language I have to trust what COTS is saying.

Beyond that I suggested two low-level prospects or, if the Phillies offer to absorb his remaining salary and maybe some next year (whether that is the $2MM buyout or something more) then perhaps its someone like Tyler Deloach or Nate Smith, although I don't really like the idea of Smith getting moved for Utley. Unfortunately we are in competition for his services so I'm thinking the price is going up by the day as Chase continues to rake.

I don't like giving up Nate Smith as well, but it's going to be a tough thing to pull off given the Cubs, Giants and Yankees are our competition. Those team have a lot of resources.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Utley will be held out of the lineup Sunday.

[Tyler]

One final game at home (Philly) then he's an Angel?

[HeavenlyHalos]

Alden Gonzalez: "My sense w/Utley, if they get him, is that he'd get most of his ABs at DH, w/ Murphy in LF, DeJesus off bench."

 

Not sure what to make of "my sense" but if that's true, than I am definitely against this trade. 

[AngelsFaninGA]

It's DeJesus 2.0, he'll come in and bat .200 and everyone will wonder why all our acquisitions struggle when in reality the warning signs are obvious (36 years old, steadily declining, injury-prone, you name it). Not to mention he'll take at-bats away from the wrong players.