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The Philadelphia Phillies will be bringing back some familiar faces as they move deeper into the World Series next season.
The team re-signed Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto to bolster the batting order, which will also feature Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and several other returning position players. Meanwhile, the starting rotation will look much the same as last year, with the potential addition of top prospect Andrew Painter.
If that group is able to capture a championship, which would be the team’s first since 2008, the players will immediately cement themselves as franchise legends.
But as the current crop of Phillies stars seem to be doing this, the biggest obstacle standing in their way now is getting help from a former Phillies World Series champion.
Philadelphia Phillies legend Chase Utley takes on new role with Los Angeles Dodgers
Chase Utley, who played for the Phillies for 12 years and was a key figure in the team’s 2008 World Series title, has revealed he will team up with the Los Angeles Dodgers in their quest for a third straight championship.
“Right now, I’m happy with what we’re doing, which is spending some time with the Dodgers and the front office and their players, but also having some time with my family,” Utley explained when asked about the nature of his role with the team. during an interview from the team’s Spring Training with “Dodger Talk.”
A native of Southern California, Utley held a front office position and a part-time television analyst role for the team after he retired from playing. But in 2022, he moved to Europe to work as an official Major League Baseball ambassador.
Now he’s returned to his home state and has apparently resumed a role with the Dodgers, though he sent a vague five-word response when asked what exactly that will be.
“I’m trying to feel it out,” Utley said on “Dodger Talk.”
Philadelphia Phillies World Series Champion Praises Los Angeles Dodgers Brass as ‘the Best’
Utley was traded by the Phillies as a player to the Dodgers in 2015, marking one of the first trades executed by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Now back working for Friedman, Utley didn’t hesitate to anoint him as the best manager in the sport, notably excluding any mention of Phillies boss Dave Dombrowski.
“Andrew (Friedman) is the best there is, so to have the ability to learn, to continue to learn, to absorb and hang with the current big league guys (is great),” Utley said on “Dodger Talk.” “I’m just here to help.”
While his old team in Philadelphia looks to beat the Dodgers en route to a National League pennant next year, they’re probably hoping Utley’s legendary presence won’t help the defending champions too much.
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