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Phillies need Roy Halladay, Chase Utley healthy

If the Phillies' ace and second baseman are healthy in 2013, they could be back on top of the National League East.

By Randy Booth
Jason Arnold

For the Philadelphia Phillies to return to the dominance they displayed from 2007-2011, they'll need two key players to be healthy: Chase Utley and Roy Halladay.

Philly.com's Matt Gelb said the Phillies could work some magic in free agency, but all they really need is a healthy roster:

The Phillies can strategically add, but this team's fate is bound to its seven players already earning $10 million or more per season. The two with cloudy health - Chase Utley and Roy Halladay - are the most important. No acquisition can overcome diminished production from them.

After making at least 30 starts in every season since 2006, Halladay made just 25 starts last season. He went 11-8 with a 4.49 ERA. It was his highest ERA since his 10.64 mark in 19 games in 2000 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Utley, 33, has struggled with injuries the last three seasons. Last season the second baseman played in just 83 games. He batted .256 with a .793 OPS and 11 home runs.

For the first time since 2003, the Phillies finished in third place in the National League East. The Phillies won the East five straight seasons before their 81-81 finish last season.