There’s no doubt that most of us would love to see Chase Utley finish his career as a Phillie. There’s a certain sentimentality that goes along with his existence in Philadephia. World Fucking Champions is easily the greatest thing ever said by someone wearing a black knit hat on a mild October day. But… does anyone else get the sense that Ruben Amaro is going to do something really silly like pay Utley $48 million over four years?
This morning, Jim Salisbury asked his Magic 8 Ball if the Phillies would re-sign the great Utley. All signs point to yes*: [CSN Philly]
• A person with knowledge of the situation says the Phillies have had recent talks with Utley’s representation about a contract extension.
• Word in well-placed baseball circles is that the Phillies are not listening to trade offers for Utley.
• The decision to broaden second-base prospect Cesar Hernandez’ utility skills by having him play some outfield shouldn’t be underestimated, especially upon further review of the comment that GM Ruben Amaro Jr. made to CSNPhilly.com on Sunday.
“If we’re fortunate enough to keep Chase in our uniform, which we hope to do, Cesar becomes a utility piece,” Amaro said Sunday.
• Amaro, the man who has said he wants to make Utley a Phillie for life, and Utley, who as far back as spring training said he’d like to stay with the club, have recently been spotted huddling for private conversations at the ballpark.
Bet they’re not talking about sushi restaurants, though there is a good one right around the corner from Busch Stadium if this hunch proves to be a whole lot of bunk.
So that of course led to other scriptuals speculating as the length of width of a potential Chase Utley contract extension handed out by the silliest man in sports, Ruben Amaro Jr. Wordsmith David Murphy has an estimate:
What would a Chase Utley contract extension look like? Try three years and $45 million. The breakdown: http://t.co/IaREt6CAgA
— David Murphy (@ByDavidMurphy) July 25, 2013
Gew.
That’s too much.
Look, Utley is having his best season since 2009. Not coincidentally, 2009 was also the last time Utley played more than 115 games in a season (he should end up around 120-130 this season). Injuries in four consecutive seasons from ages 31-34 is not a fluke. Utley in injury prone and he has bad knees. And though he was never a great fielder, he was always a playmaker, but even that’s no longer the case (see: this). I’d love to see the Phils sign Utley to a two- or three-year deal for between $15-$21 million. But that’s not going to happen. He’ll get more, and if Amaro, whose hands are tied and heart’s not free, is involved, Utley will likely get a lot more.
So as hard as it may be, it might be time to turn around and walk away from Chase… pretending we don’t love him.
Poets, they were:
*Salisbury also noted that the Phillies had an Utley ad on their website promoting the next homestand and will give away a Chase Utley poster as well. I think he’s radically overestimating the communication between the front office and the freelance graphics guy who works in cubicle 98 D.
36 Comments
How is it over paying if he is the best second baseman in the NL and batting over .280?
LOL
Because he won’t be doing either 2-3 years from now. See: Ryan Howard.
The difference there is that Chase Utley actually puts some effort into his game. I’d never compare the two.
Because he misses chunks of time.
He’s not the best scond baseman in the NL, but hes probably top 3-5 when he’s healthy. The concern is the amount of years and his durability
I can see a future CB headline: Did Ruben Amaro do something unconventional today? No, he Overpayed for an Aging Player, Again.
So Rube has a chance to sign to sign a player in his mid-30’s that has been injury prone every season for the last 4 years for ANOTHER 4 years?
Of course he’ll do it. It says Ruben Amaro Jr all over it.
Three year is way to long. In 2 or 3 years you’ll have a middle infield of two mid to late 30s guys. Of course that is when they’re both healthy which is about 60 games a season. Also, if you trade him, you’re only going to get a few mid level prospects at best.
The money doesn’t matter, this team can afford it. The years matter and I wouldn’t go over 2.
As a phillies fan you have to be hopeful that utley found a way to keep his knee condition at bay. He’s still one of the best 2nd basemen in the league (cano, zobrist, pedroia, Phillips, who else?) when he’s healthy, and this year’s injury was kind of a fluke. Anyway, I’m hoping for two more years at $20-$24 million. That’ll also give the Phils some time to figure out who the second baseman of the future is.
You think with all that money his wife would have a less fuzy face
Of all the people to keep, Chase is the one IMO. This team is going to be overhauled and there is added value (unlike the billions paid to Howard) in paying a team leader who can teach something to the younger Phillies. He has tremendous value in that regard – no one else does. This goes beyond what he may do at the plate in 2 or 3 years.
Nick Lachey rocking the turtle neck sweater.
2 years with a 3rd year option would be nice but 45 million is way too much.
I’ll preface this post by offering a preemptive apology to the small and very sensitive contingency of this fan base known as the Chase Utley Cult, but you need to read this so that you can come back to this thing called reality. First, your God known as Chase is only playing well this year because he is in a situation known as a contract year. Players who are in a contract year typically experience an improved performance because that said increased performance means lucrative incentives await them in a future contract. Secondly, his knees are not healed because he suffers from a well stated chronic condition. Chronic means it is expected that his already weakened kneess will see further detioration.. Lastly, and most importantly, if signing a 35 year-old player, with a chronic condition, and who has seen a drastic decline in many important categories of performance to a 3 year, $45 million dollar contract somehow still makes sense to you then please return to the beginning of this post and read this again. Eventually, you’ll come your senses!
Well said, informed. I love Chase, but giving him that extention would be the epitomy of foolishness. Lord knows it’s not about the money, though $45 million isn’t exactly chump change, it’s the number of years for a guy with deteriorating knees, who knows what shape he’ll be in down the road as he gets older and how that will hamper his play. Meanwhile, the team is retarding the development of a possible heir apparent in Hernandez, even worse, forcing him to switch to the outfield where he might well become another defensive liability (see Darin Ruf and the failed leftfield experiment). Sooner or later, the team, and the fans will HAVE to put emotion aside, do the prudent thing and cut ties with Utley. Sure, it’ll hurt at first, but time heals all wounds.
Best comment I’ve read anywhere all day about this possible Utley deal. Phillies fans are so delusional about Chase Utley. Thanks for telling it like it is.
Fuck you all!
I guess it will be kind of cool to have the same core of the World Fucking Champions team still playing for us on the 10th anniversary.
No.
Are these the same people that cried when the Eagles wouldn’t resign Dawkins?
Chase is the heart & soul of the Phillies. He should never wear another team’s uniform. Ever.
He is basically the Derek Jeter of this Phillies team.
I hope they get this deal done soon.
And $15 million is NOT too much money for a guy like Chase. Think about some of the less-than-great players who are making around that much. (Shane Victorino, anyone?)
You’re the moron fan that cheers for the names on the back more than the name on the front. Enjoy Ryan Howard in 2017, maybe he’ll sign your kid’s hat from his wheelchair.
And Jeter won 5 World Series, has a .313 lifetime avg (.308 in postseason) and a career .829 OPS. I love Chase, but seriously, don’t even go there.
^^^^^^^THIS!
Chase was great and will always be loved in this town, but its time to move on. Not only does he have chronic knee issues, but you are more or less blocking the development of a young player behind him. This is the time when this team needs to bring up some of these young players and see what we have. We are already handcuffed to guys like Howard (and to a lesser degree Rollins). The LAST thing this team needs to do is give 3 years to another rapidly aging player.
No. We’re the REAL fans that don’t turn on our best players and don’t beg for a sale when were in frikin 2nd place. Look at the Marlins and Astros. Selling got them far, didn’t it?
Is it my turn yet?
Yeah it’s your turn to cut my grass and clean my pool.
I want him back but that is a retarded contract to give him. 2 years MAX
NO LOVE,
BeezNutz
1) who gives a shit if 15 million is too much? reminder the phillies aren’t the oakland athletics or rays, money is not a problem.
2) you think 3 years of freddy galvis is going to be better than 3 years of Utley? this team isnt signing a better big name 2B if they let Utley go because they know they’re not winning a WS within the next 3 years.
3) I’d like one player on our team to be able to work a pitch count or maybe teach a younger player our team how to, without Utley waive good bye to both those things.
trade Paps and eat some of his contract, trade Michael Young, waive Fat Delmon, trade Jimmy, hell buying out 20 million year of ryan howards contract to trade him would be a better investment then not paying chase.
you’re all blowing it. I know you’re with me Beez Nuts, dont go soft on keeping Utley now.
Last time I checked, MLB does not have a salary cap & Phillies are rich as fuck. Its not coming out of your pockets so stfu
Last time I checked teams with an average age of 33 don’t win shit
yup! LETS GET YOUNG PROSPECTS THAT WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING!! jackass
We have a young 2B prospect already? Maybe you’d have heard of him if you weren’t too busy pretending to have actually gone to a game in The Vet once. Now go have a PBR in a Springfield bar and compare tribal tats with your homo buddies that haven’t OD’d.
That was me being sarcastic you over the hill dumb ass
If giving Chase Utley too many years is the stupidest thing Ruben Amara does over the next week, the Phillies are in great shape.
Agreed.
I’m so torn on this…it could blow up but at the same time, there’s almost no way they’ll get someone in here who produces anywhere close to what Utley does, when healthy. If it’s 3 @ 11 per year I think I’d do it. Fifteen sounds a bit high.