The Chase Utley situation sounds like something the Cubs went through during their teardown years, a fading All-Star player using his hard-earned no-trade rights to get what he wants.
Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Alfonso Soriano had that leverage. Theo Epstein made it a policy to never give out no-trade clauses when he took over baseball operations on the North Side (until Jon Lester wanted one and the Cubs quickly caved on that point in the $155 million negotiation).
It’s not necessarily a question of whether or not the Cubs want Utley or view the six-time All-Star second baseman as an upgrade or worry that much about chemistry.