Is exactly what the Philadelphia Phillies did with Chase Utley so they could avoid salary arbitration. Utley received a new seven-year agreement for a whopping $85 million. The Phillies not only feel Chase is the best second baseman in the National League, but also one of the top 10-15 players in all of Major League Baseball. Utley hit 32 home runs and had 102 RBI’s along with a batting average of .309 for the 2006 season. Utley is definitely getting a huge pay raise considering he was paid $500,000 last year.

Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies has now hit safely in 32 games straight after hitting a single today off the Florida Marlins. Utley has a long way to go until we really start to get excited, but it is very impressive nonetheless.