"Disgruntled Rangers icon Michael Young, unhappy at being asked to change positions one more time, asked to be traded a month ago. It was a big national story with an odd local twist. A rumor quickly surfaced that the Phillies were sniffing around, making calls, checking out what it would take to get him.

The Phillies? It didn't seem to make a lot of sense at the time. Probably nothing more than conducting due diligence. Sure, any team would love the idea of adding a six-time All-Star and career .300 hitter to its lineup. But even though Young has played all over the infield, the defending National League East champions didn't have a crying need at third, short or second.

Fuhgeddabouddit.

Except that that curious little Texas two-step could be viewed from a different angle after yesterday's revelation that All-Star second baseman Chase Utley has not been held back because of general soreness, as has been the party line the last couple of days. Instead, he underwent an MRI and is suffering from patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Manager Charlie Manuel couldn't say for sure when Utley might be ready to play in his first Grapefruit League game.

For a team with World Series aspirations, a team that ritually invokes the phrase "barring injuries" whenever its hopes and dreams for the upcoming season are discussed, this has to be considered an alarming shot across the bow.

And it becomes even more problematic if the alleged pursuit of Young was spurred by a worry that didn't become public until yesterday. Because that would mean they've been worried about Utley's health for quite some time now.

Standing in the outfield of Mike Schmidt Field at the Carpenter Complex, both general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and Utley himself quickly downplayed the seriousness of this development. And it could turn out that this is little more than a false alarm that is quickly forgotten once the regular season opens.

Still, minimizing concern for injuries that later turn out to be more severe is pretty much standard operating procedure these days. And the reported inquiry into the availability of one of the American League's top players can now be seen as a possible telltale clue that the team was looking at all its possible options in case Utley misses significant time . . . or is forced to move to the outfield to take some of the strain off his knees."