Phillies shortstop and impending free agent Jimmy Rollins met with the media at Citizens Bank Park today. Rollins' quotes will be easier to parse once a full transcript is available, but in the meantime here are a few nuggets from the team's beat writers.
- Rollins reiterated that he's seeking a five-year deal, tweets MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. The shortstop said he's open to a fifth-year option, however. Zolecki indicates that it'd have to be Rollins' option, so perhaps a player or vesting one. Rollins turns 33 next month. He talked about his five-year goal to SI's Jon Heyman on September 28th.
- Rollins says there's a "good chance" a deal with the Phillies happens, tweets Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Zolecki has Rollins saying he can't picture wearing another uniform, but noted that the shortstop also said it's about years and money.
- GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he plans to keep talks with Rollins private. Asked what losing Rollins would mean, Amaro said, "I will say that it will be a huge blow for us, but not insurmountable." Amaro said some in the organization feel Freddy Galvis is ready to play shortstop every day, and some do not, so he's not sure whether they'd go outside the organization for a replacement.
boom boom boom with the posts. bummed my team isn’t in the playoffs, but very un-bummed that this site is picking up again
TRADE EVERYBODY
Just out of curiosity, who do you root for?
He’s a Sawks fan.
*laughtrack*
no no! not one of those sox fans! promise!
*laughtrack*
=(
Is there ANY chance whatsoever that he isn’t putting up Orlando Cabrera numbers at age 37?
“Aging shortstop gets 5 year deal” isn’t a statement that should ever exist, but in 2011 probably will :/
Rollins on Free Agency: “I am sloppy seconds for those who missed out on Reyes.”
he doesnt even run hard to first base…as a phillies fan, i rather let galvis take the reigns and say bye bye jimmy
He’ll get two years at best. Maybe a club option for a third year. And it won’t be in Philly.
Before playoffs started I said it all depends on if Rollins steps up in playoffs with his offense …..because his defense is def one of the best in leagues …but is that enough to keep him and for FIVE YEARS come on jimmy …….we need bats and need them bad in 2012 ….so im thinking its been nice having you as a philly but have fun next year on another team
Enjoy San Fran, J-Roll. That is until they cut you at age 37 w/ 100mm still left on your contract.
I would love for him to accept arbitration. Give him a year to try and improve his numbers and reputation, and try to get the big contract when he’s competing with Stephen Drew, not Reyes. Phillies get to stall and see if Galvis can sustain his relatively new production at the plate.
I would love for him to accept arbitration. Give him a year to try and improve his numbers and reputation, and try to get the big contract when he’s competing with Stephen Drew, not Reyes. Phillies get to stall and see if Galvis can sustain his relatively new production at the plate.
I don’t understand why people feel the need to say “yeah right Jimmy” or just be completely outraged for him asking for 5 years…
… either you don’t understand how a negotiation works or you do and you’re just being ignorant.
Jimmy knows he isn’t going to get 5 years… but what’s the harm in asking for it and hoping somebody’s stupid enough to offer 5?
Yeah, he asks for 5, most teams offer 3, and he’ll end up with some kind of 4year deal.
I think he gets 3/$40 with a $10M player option, or just a straight 4/$50.
We in Seattle would love to see Jimmy Rollins batting 2nd behind ichiro
That worked out well signing a speedy infielder in his 30’s.
He’s not a two hole hitter. He doesn’t have the mind set.
San Francisco might give him the years he wants. They just sold out every game last season and have a black hole at shortstop.
As a Braves fan, I hope Amaro is stupid enough to give him 5 years.
Five years?? Who does he think he is, Derek Jeter!?
Just kidding, Philly fans. Please don’t send hate messages or bombard me with Metrics showing what an overrated bum Jeter is compared to Rollins.
Though I do think that the 5 years is nothing more the an opening bid. Can’t see Amaro going more than 3 at big money. The team IS starting to show age throughout the entire roster, SS would be a good place to start getting younger.
On the scale of overrated SS, Rollins isn’t too far back from Jeter.
What a jerk-off thing to say. Go back to whatever you were doing before the Phils won the world series and us real fans will give Jimmy a collective thank you for 12 years of service.
That’s how you negotiate. He has every right to ask for 5 years and hope someone’s stupid enough to offer it.
I agree with you. If he wants to leave, he can leave. No reason to hamstring the franchise with him in 5 years when Galvis should be ready.
… besides, it’s not like you said good riddance Chase or Cliff, so you’re still a real fan.
So what because he doesn’t want to see Rollins overpaid that means he’s a bandwagon fan?
It’s smart business to overpay a 33 year old short stop with leg problems. You’re probably one of the people who thought the Phillies should have resigned Burrell. Sometimes, it’s time for people to leave. This isn’t 2007. Jimmy’s best years are behind him. Chase’s best years are behind him. Ryan’s years, etc. Sometimes, tough decisions have to be made and you can’t let sentimentality dictate the moves the front office makes.
Speak for yourself, he’s worth at least that in memories. Spend as much payroll on Rollins as you want, Phillies. It won’t cost you in the end, promise.
-C
Oh yeah, I’d trade him if a team offered a great return that would keep the window open for another 3-5 years.
I have no problem seeing the core guys leave if it means the team is better in the long run. We got the best baseball possible out of these guys. I don’t want to see them leave, I’d love to see them spend their entire careers here, but if they’re going to hurt the team in 3-5 years… then sometimes tough decisions have to be made.