PHOENIX _ Chase Utley, whose 16-year playing career ended last fall with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is expected to officially join the club's front office over the next week, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Wednesday.
Friedman said Utley's role hasn't been determined, but he envisions Utley, a Long Beach, Calif., native and UCLA product, spending time around the major league team and with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Utley, 40, spent time with the Dodgers' front office at the winter meetings in December, sitting in on meetings in Las Vegas.
"We're still figuring (the role) out," Friedman said. "I think he can impact any area he decides to spend a lot of time on and I think, right now, it's just about taking it all in. ... Right now it's just about learning as much as he can about different aspects and then figuring out what areas he's more interested in."
Utley spent his final three-plus seasons with the Dodgers after establishing himself as a premier second baseman over 12 years with the Philadelphia Phillies. The six-time All-Star ended his career with a .275 batting average, .823 on-base-plus-slugging percentage and 259 home runs.
