# Why Chase Utley Chose the Dodgers Over the Phillies The legendary player explains his decision to join the Dodgers instead of returning to the Phillies. - **Source:** [Forbes - Business](https://brifing.si/source/e0310925-a7af-4d4b-80a7-c80d400e49fa) - **Published:** 2026-07-19 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/4ff29c74-8fb5-421f-9d54-4809eb0ebb66 ## Chase Utley's Career Choice Legendary second baseman Chase Utley, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, revealed his decision to join the Dodgers as a special assistant. This choice was influenced by his family and lifestyle preferences. ## Geography and Family Factors Utley explained that living in Los Angeles and wanting to stay close to his family played a significant role in his decision. This allowed him to avoid extensive travel and stay at home. ## His Loyalty to the Phillies Utley expressed his love and loyalty to the Phillies, stating that if he lived in Philadelphia, he would have considered a similar role with them. However, his current situation made the Dodgers a more suitable choice. ## The Phillies' Offer The Phillies had offered Utley a role, but he chose the Dodgers' special assistant position instead. This decision disappointed Phillies fans, but Utley's explanations clarified his reasoning. ## The Importance of the Dodgers The Dodgers played a crucial role in the final stages of Utley's career. Working as a special assistant with Andrew Friedman allowed Utley to remain involved in the baseball world. ## Future Possibilities While maintaining his loyalty to the Phillies, Utley left the door open for a potential reunion in the future. This decision was based on balancing career and family considerations. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/07/19/phillies-legend-reveals-why-he-chose-dodgers-job-over-philadelphia-return/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._