Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley said he's never envisioned wearing another team's uniform, and now he'll never have to.
Reports indicate that Utley, who was facing free agency at the end of the 2013 campaign, and the Phillies have agreed Wednesday to a two-year contract extension, but the details of the deal haven't fully been released yet. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the pact is most likely "in the $25-30 million range."
There is also a possibility that the deal includes an option for a third year and even a fourth, keeping Utley in a Phillies uniform until he's 37 or 38.
Utley, 34, is hitting .275 for the Phillies this season with 15 homers and 42 RBIs, and has shown that he can stay healthy this season despite a history of knee problems.
Utley, in the final year of a seven-year $85 million contract, was the subject of trade rumors leading up to the deadline, but general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. decided to make no moves and is attempting to build around the team with the pieces it already has in place.
The Phillies are in need of rebuilding, but it doesn't look like Amaro is committed to it. The Phillies entered Wednesday in third place with a 51-61 record this campaign and are 17 games behind the surging first place Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Philadelphia is also 11 games out of a wildcard spot.
Utley is a five-time All-Star and won the World Series with Philadelphia in 2008.
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