That statement should raise a few eyebrows for several reasons. Chase Utley is a second baseman. The Seattle Mariners have a second baseman on an expensive contract ($24 million per year) for the next seven years in one, Robinson Cano. Chase Utley is a 36 year old journeyman that has spent 13 years in the National League. Adding to that, Chase Utley has been suspended two games for breaking Ruben Tejada’s leg in what has been called a dirty slide into second base.
It could be that Jerry Dipoto just doing his due diligence and checking in on all the desirable free agents on his list.