Chase Utley Contract Overview
Chase Utley signed a seven year, 86 million dollar contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies on December 9, 2011, locking him in through the 2018 season Forbes report. The deal included a 12 million dollar club option for the 2019 season, which the Phillies declined after the 2018 campaign.
The contract carried an average annual value of roughly 12.3 million dollars, making Utley one of the highest paid second basemen in the National League at the time of signing. Total guaranteed money was reported at 44 million dollars for the initial six year term, with the 2019 option adding additional potential earnings based on performance incentives.
Chase Utley Contract History and Teams
Utley entered the major leagues as a second round pick in the 2000 MLB draft and made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2003 Baseball Reference profile. He spent 12 seasons with the Phillies before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2015, where he played through the 2018 season under the terms of his existing contract.
After declining the 2019 club option, Utley signed a one year, 2 million dollar contract with the New York Mets for the 2019 season MLB.com report. He appeared in 102 games that season, batting .233 with 10 home runs, before announcing his retirement on October 24, 2019.
Chase Utley Contract Legacy and Financial Impact
The Chase Utley contract extension is often cited as a key commitment by the Phillies to retain a core player during their 2010s competitive window, with the team reaching the World Series in 2008 and 2009 shortly before the deal was finalized.
Utley finished his career with 284 home runs, 1,287 runs batted in, and a career WAR of 47.6 according to FanGraphs FanGraphs stats. His contract structure, featuring a player option and team options with declining guarantees, provided the Phillies with flexibility while rewarding Utley for his production during his prime years.