Is Chase Utley Blocking Trades?

In a recent radio appearance on Sportsnet 590 The Fan in Toronto, Phillies team president Pat Gillick indicated that Chase Utley is likely to remain with the Phillies for the rest of the season.

“There’s been a lot of conversation about Chase leaving Philadelphia," Gillick admitted to the hosts.  "At this point, he’s still a Phillie and it appears that he’s going to be a Phillie until the end of the season at least.”

Last week we heard rumblings that suggested that Utley would be open to joining a team on the West Coast, preferably in Southern California.   The Giants, Angels, Yankees, and Astros (among others) were all reported to have interest - but now it seems likely Utley will be staying in Philadelphia.

Gillick also said that of all the guys on the Phillies roster, Utley is the guy that the team turns to in the clubhouse, he is still very much the face of the organization.

"He's one of those guys that's a very quite individual, but he's one of those "lead-by-example" type of people," Gillick explained.  "He gives you everything on the field both offensively and defensively. He's certainly a player that our younger players can look up to."

"Even though Chase has been out on for a long period of time this season with injuries, he's kind of the face of our club at the moment from a veteran's standpoint."

So Phillies fans what if Chase Utley blocks trades - will you be supportive of him?