Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho
No.
The discussion doesn't just begin and end with Utley, either. Jimmy Rollins is an interesting name as well (though his vesting option for 2015 is a concern).
Nobody is untradeable. Wil Myers should have taught us all that. Also, TINSTAPP. Hoarding pitching prospects is not guaranteed to succeed. In fact, there's plenty of evidence to suggest the opposite.
The Royals compatability as a trade partner with Philadelphia comes down to what type of rebuild the Phillies plan to do. If they want "close" talent, the Royals would have a tough time matching up without Ventura (though I have a hard time seeing any top 50 talents involved in a deadline deal for Utley).
If the Phillies are willing to accept something that's farther away, a lot of talent comes into play (and I'm probably missing a few guys):
Orlando Calixte
Jorge Bonifacio
Cheslor Cuthbert
Miguel Almonte
Angel Baez
Sam Selman
Kyle Smith
Bryan Brickhouse
Fred Ford
Cam Gallagher
It's too early to have any idea what Philly is looking at, but if they're a seller this year, they're probably looking at a 2-3 year rebuild.
If you look at what the Phillies got in return for Hunter Pence (who was younger, controlled longer and much less of a health risk), you're not talking about prospects like Ventura or Zimmer.
You're talking about Seth Rosin - 23-year-old who started his third professional season at A+ level - and Tommy Joseph - a young catcher with some intriguing power but contact issues.
Oh, and Nate Schierholtz.
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Utley would be a half-year, 7.5 million dollar rental - and he's 34. Sure, he's a great player and a left-handed bat with pop that this lineup could really use. But surely his prospect price would not be as substantial as many are making it out to be if the Phillies were in a selling/rebuilding mode, right?