Phillies Fans Say It's Time To Trade Chase Utley
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Chase Utley is the greatest second baseman in Phillies history and one of the most beloved athletes to ever play in Philadelphia. Now in his 12th season in the majors, Utley, 35, has been a Phillie his entire career, but fans are finally ready to sacrifice him for the greater good of the struggling franchise.
About 60-percent of fans on the WIP Morning Show admitted the Phillies have "got to do it" when polled on the Audio Roadshow question, "How would you react if the Phillies traded Chase Utley?"
The Phillies, in the midst of a six game losing streak, have the second worst record in baseball (24-34) and are on a rapid decline. With an age aging core, a weak farm system and Utley's early success this season (.311/.370/.498), it may be the ideal time for trading one of the best Phillies ever.
Due to MLB's 10-5 rule, because Utley has played at least 10 years in the MLB and at least the last five with the Phillies, he has the ability to veto any trade. However, Utley was raised in the city of Long Beach and was a star at UCLA, so National League contending teams out west like the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, could be very appealing for the second baseman.
MLB Network's Peter Gammons said on Comcast SportsNet's Philly Sports Talk earlier in the week, "A general manager said to me that he thought the National League would be decided by whether the Dodgers or the Giants got Chase Utley."
The highly respected Gammons went on to call Utley one of his 15 favorite players he has ever covered.
