By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Earlier this week, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that he hopes to continue his career in 2017. In the midst of the Phillies series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Howard's long-time teammate Chase Utley made a similar proclamation.
As noted by Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times, Utley says that he doesn't plan on 2016 being his final season.
Chase Utley said he plans to play again next year.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 8, 2016
Utley is batting .249 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. All of those numbers, and his 1.6 WAR, are improvements over his 2015 numbers, when he battled injuries for a good portion of the season. That said, the numbers still don't jump off the page, and Utley is only on a one-year deal. While the team's long-term second baseman, Willie Calhoun, is probably more likely to take over the position in 2018, Utley's backup, Howie Kendrick, is under contract for $10 million in 2017. In other words, the Dodgers aren't in a position where they would need to retain Utley for another season if they choose not to.
The 37-year-old has had some impressive moments in 2016, homering twice against the New York Mets in May and also putting together a six-hit performance in an extra-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles in July. So perhaps if the Dodgers don't choose to retain Utley, another team would be interested in signing him.
Utley, who appears to be tied to the West Coast for the rest of his career, probably could benefit from playing a couple more seasons on a World Series contender. Injuries in the back half of his prime turned Utley from a lock Hall of Famer to someone probably on the outside looking in, so perhaps another signature playoff moment or two could ultimately help sway his Hall of Fame case.
