Los Angeles Dodgers acquire veteran second baseman Chase Utley from Phillies

The Los Angeles Dodgers filled at least one roster need this week, acquiring infielder Chase Utley and cash considerations from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney and minor league pitcher John Richy.

Although the veteran Utley is a decent pickup and should step in for injured Howie Kendrick at second base, the move does not provide the Dodgers with the arm -- either in the bullpen or the starting rotation -- that they so desperately need.

Utley, 36, has only played in 73 games this season, hitting five homers and driving in 30 runs, as he missed 37 games with right ankle inflammation and was on the disabled list from June 24-Aug. 7.

Since returning from the DL however, he has been hot, going 15-for-31 (.484) with five doubles, a home run and five RBI. He has hit safely in all eight games played.

Utley, is a six-time All-Star (2006-10, 2014) and four-time National League Silver Slugger winner (2006-09) who has a career .282 batting average with 233 home runs and 916 RBI in 13 big league seasons with the Phillies from 2003-15.

Utley ranks among the active leaders in games played (1551, 3rd), runs (949, 1st), hits (1623, 3rd), doubles (346, 2nd), home runs (233, 2nd), RBI (916, 2nd), on-base percentage (.366, 1st), slugging percentage (.494, 2nd), extra-base hits (628, 2nd) and total bases (2766, 2nd) as a second baseman.

Utley also has performed well in the postseason, appearing in 46 career postseason games, recording a .262/.402/.500 slashline, going 43-for-164 with seven doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 25 RBI in postseason play and was a member of the 2008 World Series champions. He is the Phillies’ all-time leader in postseason runs (38), walks (34), stolen bases (10), go-ahead RBI (10) and game-winning RBI (5).

Utley was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 2nd round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft out of Long Beach Poly High School, but did not sign and attended UCLA. He was then selected by the Phillies in the 1st round (15th overall) of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft.

Sweeney was hitting .271 with nine homers, 30 doubles, 32 stolen bases and 49 RBI in 116 games this year for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. The 24-year-old was the Dodgers’ 13th-round selection out of the University of Central Florida in 2012.

Richy, the Dodgers’ third-round draft selection out of UNLV in 2014, was 10-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games (18 starts) for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this season. The right-hander pitched for Rookie-level Ogden and Single-A Great Lakes in 2014.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com