Utley, Phillies agree to $85M deal

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Chase Utley is quite comfortable with long-term deals. One day after getting married, Utley agreed Sunday to an $85 million, seven-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, who can keep three-fourths of their infield in place for the rest of the decade.

"Chase puts up very good individual numbers, but at the same time, he's a team player," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said.

Utley hit .309 last season with 40 doubles, 32 homers, 102 RBIs and 131 runs. He also had a 35-game hitting streak that tied for the 10th-longest in major league history and longest by a second baseman.

After making $500,000 last year, Utley gets a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $4.5 million this year, $7.5 million in 2008, $11 million in 2009 and $15 million in each of the final seasons.

Chase is a pretty special player," Gillick said. "The commitment speaks for itself."

http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2.../ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_phillies_utley&frame=true

 

[WarriorWelker83]

Relatively inexpensive considering some of the contracts that have been signed this off-season. Chase is a great player, he's got a lot of heart and he's really tough, just the way we like them in Philadelphia. Hopefully 8 years from now when Chase is 34 he's not the next Mike Lieberthal and we're giving him 15 million a year to hit 232. He was an all-star when we signed him long term too.