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Sunday July.28, 2013

Several general managers around the league will be jockeying for position over the next few days to make their pitch to Ruben Amaro Jr. for the rights to employ Utley, who is arguably Philadelphia’s most beloved & admired athlete in the city’s history. However, even if Don Corleone made Amaro an offer he can’t refuse, I’d tend to lean towards the belief that he’d send the horse head back with his deepest regrets. In the past 48 hours, there have been encouraging signs of a contract extension brewing between the Phillies and Utley.

By Chris Creighton (Phillies Correspondent via http://www.warrroomphilly.com – visit the website here)  Follow @WARROOMPHLCHRIS

There are some things in life that can never be done. For example, it is impossible to move your leg in a clockwise circle and simultaneously draw the number “6”.

Now that you know this, I’ll give you time to try it, go ahead. It is impossible to run in flip-flops…for which there should probably be an Olympic event.

It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open and finally, it’s GOT to be darned near impossible for the Phillies to trade Chase Utley. Right?

2009 World Series – Chasey Utley HR Highlights

Utley could become an unrestricted free agent, making him eligible to change his relationship status to “available” and ready to date any one of the 30 MLB teams in November, including the Phillies. Yes, you would be right to feel sick to your stomach with the thought of Utley seeing other people. That’s why they’re called crushes.  Naturally, trading for the man has been quite the popular topic in baseball circles across the land over the past month since the club have see-sawed their way into buy-or-sell purgatory.

There’s no greater example of how the 2013 team has toyed with our hearts than their pre-and post-All Star Game performance.

Entering the break, the Phils were 9-4 in July and slowly gaining ground on the NL East leading Atlanta Braves.

However, the team stumbled out of the gates losing six out of their next seven games after the Mid-Summer Classic.

This includes last night’s 2-1 loss at the hands of Doug Fister and the Detroit Tigers which would knock the team back to nine games out of the division lead.

So now with the season shrinking and the pendulum swinging back towards seller mode, Utley will no doubt be wondering if he’ll need to fill out a change-of-address form soon.

Really, does any trade deadline target possess half the combination of Utley’s natural athleticism, mental toughness, steely-eyed intensity and incredibly high baseball IQ? No, certainly not.

Add to these qualities that Utley has put together a respectable 2013 campaign after two years of lingering knee issues which were once feared as career threatening and you have a player who is the biggest blip on any contending team’s radar heading down the home stretch.

Post-season hero, clubhouse leader, proven winner. Utley’s resume is certain to be covered with red check marks as MLB general managers put together their wish lists.

This is not to say that it will be easy to move Utley as written into his contract is a no-trade clause which gives him power to squash any deal between the Phillies and 21 different teams.

Although that certainly won’t stop the calls coming in anywhere from California to Maryland and every state between.

But there are also so many other intangibles and personal traits which will make it all the more difficult for Amaro pull the trigger.

The fact of the matter is Amaro simply can’t trade a Chase Utley, not even for the brightest of star prospects as he will probably elect to dub Utley as untouchable.

This is a special kind of player and selfless person who comes around but once in a lifetime and has still shown he can make a difference both on and off the field in the City of Brotherly Love.

It’s not just the style of his game, Chase also plays life the right way.

In addition to being one of the game’s most intense, big-game players, Chase and his wife, Jen, are two of the most charitable people in Philadelphia.

The Utley Foundation has been one of the area’s most recognizable charities and has raised almost $200,000 towards bringing awareness to fighting animal cruelty.

Through Chase’s Champs, Utley also annually purchases full season tickets for local area patients from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher’s Hospital. This gives young patients the chance to escape their problems for a day for the rare chance to see a Major League Baseball game.

And finally, since 2006, Utley has served as chairman for the Phillies RBI and Rookie Leagues.

Both charities serve mostly inner-city children who might not have the chance to play organized baseball in and outside of school.

Financial assistance along with events for fans to donate their new and lightly used baseball equipment make it possible for these kids to play the game they love to watch.

Sure, there are other candidates who may possibly be traded before this coming Wednesday. The team may part with players like Jonathan Papelbon, Michael Young or Carlos Ruiz.

Ruben Amaro is positioning to devise a hybrid plan to rebuild and yet, still contend and I don’t see him doing that without Utley.

There was The Throw, the World Series Championship, one very memorable celebration speech, five trips to enjoy October baseball, 154 HBP’s brushed off as if it was a ping pong ball, a grand slam for his first Major League hit and a myriad of plays in his stellar career that have made us all shout out at one time or another, “You ARE the man!” These are the many reasons why we will have the privilege of watching Chase Utley play in Philadelphia for the rest of his career.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***

A big thank – you goes out to our Philadelphia Phillies Correspondent Chris Creighton for preparing today’s featured post.

Chris is a Phillies Phan, Baseball fan & player. He thinks that there is no better place for food and is a  proponent of the city of Philadelphia. Huge U2 fan. Phillies writer at  http://www.warroomphilly.com .

Chris says:  “Follow a Web Show covering everything in the Philadelphia Sports Scene. Sit back and enjoy from the hearts of two die-hard Philly guys here ! 

You can follow Chris Creighton on Twitter Follow @WARROOMPHLCHRIS or the WarRoomPhilly Follow @WARROOMPHILLY

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