The Phillies have scraped plans to play Chase Utley at third base as the season wind downs.

Utley approached the team about the move, but a hot streak at the beginning of the month kept the team in playoff contention and made the switch too risky. Now, with just a handful of games left there isn't enough time to make the sample size big enough.

"I don't know if it's a matter whether or not he can do it," Ruben Amaro said. "I think it's more a matter of practicality and what's really best for the team overall. While having that option would be helpful, I don't know if it's really an option that's going to make us necessarily better."

Philadelphia will have to find a third baseman for 2013. They are expected to decline the $5.5 million option on Placido Polanco's contract.