Phillies Chase Utley doesn't want to leave Philadelphia

It’s the terrible time in the MLB season where teams begin to deconstruct their ailing teams. The NL East-worst Phillies are rumored to be starting with Chase Utley, but the slugger doesn’t want to leave the team for which he’s played his entire 12-year career.

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“I haven’t ever envisioned leaving Philadelphia, honestly,” Utley said, via CSN Philly. “I feel like I’m wanted in Philly. I feel like the fans appreciate the way I play. I feel like the front office appreciates the way I play. And I appreciate their support over the years. I don’t plan on going anywhere. But, again, if someone comes up to me and says, ‘You’re no longer wanted in Philly,’ then I’ll have to change my tune.”

As CSN Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury says, “Fat chance of anyone ever telling Utley he is no longer wanted in Philly.”

There is everything to like about the 35-year-old veteran, and management would have to be between a rock and a hard place to deal him — especially because they will have to run it by him first. Having spent five years with the same team and 10 years in the MLB, he has veto power over trades. So, the fact that he’s saying he wants to stay in Philadelphia is a great sign for Phillies fans. Well, until he said this.

“I guess there is a possibility for anything,” he said. “But at this point, I love playing in Philadelphia.”

He may be leaving the door open, but he emphasized his feeling that he’s going to stick around.

“We’ll just have to see how things go,” he said. “I signed up for two more years, this year and next year and hopefully longer than that assuming I continue to stay healthy. I don’t really see that changing.”

Phew.

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Phillies Chase Utley doesn’t want to leave Philadelphia

By Henry McKenna | Jul 14, 2014