Ruddy has established himself as The U's first choice this season and earned rave reviews despite the club slipping to the bottom of League Two.
He's rated around the £1m mark by Cambridge who were relieved the Premiership's transfer window closed on Monday without a bid coming.
Latics are planning long term as both Filan and deputy Gary Walsh reaching the twilight of their careers.
Filan is in talks over a new two-year contract, but the club would still like a young keeper in the squad.
Hutchings, who was at the Abbey Stadium last Saturday to see Cambridge beaten 3-1 by Kidderminster, told the Evening Post: "There has been a lot of interest in John Ruddy and we understand he went to Manchester United on trial.
"He's 18, 6ft 4ins and raw, and when that's the case, you are looking at potential.
"We are fortunate enough to have John Filan and Gary Walsh who have performed exceptionally well.
"But they are not getting any younger and we need another one to push them.
"It wouldn't necessarily be the case of putting someone straight in, it's potential you're looking at and that's what we saw in Scott Carson before he went to Liverpool.
"We are looking now but if it goes into next season, so be it."
Although Latics are happy to be patient in their quest to snap up a keeper, they would prefer more haste when it comes to landing a striker.
But things aren't running smoothly with an offer for Ade Akinbiyi turned down by Saturday's opponents Stoke, while a bid to land Southampton's Brett Ormerod on loan has also faltered, Hutchings said: "We want competition for places all over the park and we feel bringing in a striker now would help get us over the finishing line.
"If one of the front two boys got injured, we have David Graham and Lee McCulloch to go up there, but sometimes you want a proven goalscorer who is quick and lively – someone who can pinch you a goal here and there.
"We made a bid for Akinbiyi which we left in Stoke's court and I believe it has been turned down, but there are others we're looking at too."
It might be Stoke are reluctant to sell to Latics at the moment as the sides meet at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.
But Hutchings added: "Akinbiyi has had a thigh strain and I don't know whether he is going to be fit to play by the weekend.
"I'm sure that if he is fit, the lad will have a point to prove."