Wed 12/19/12 9:35 AM

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said he's "cautiously optimistic" Chase Utley will return as a regular, full-time player in 2013. Utley has missed significant time each of the last two seasons with knee problems, but expects to be ready for the start of spring training in February. "He's taking ground balls pretty much every other day," Amaro said. "He didn't take a whole lot of time off. One of the things I think we've all learned, that it probably behooved him to continue to work and be able to keep his knees going. He's actually done very well."