Reports have already surfaced that the Phillies are aggressively shopping closer Jonathan Papelbon, and ESPN's Buster Olney now reports (via Twitter) that the club is "very willing" to move shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Olney notes that Rollins has a no-trade clause, however.
Rollins, 35, struggled at the plate in 2013, batting .252/.318/.348 with a career-low six home runs despite playing in 160 games. He did swipe 22 bases in 28 attempts, but his defense also slipped, based on his -2.7 UZR/150 and -15 Defensive Runs Saved (per The Fielding Bible).
Rollins is owed $11MM in 2014 — the final guaranteed season of a three-year, $33MM contract. That deal contains an easily attainable vesting option for a fourth year at $11MM, however, which will trigger if Rollins reaches 1100 plate appearances between 2013-14 and is not on the disabled list to close the 2014 season. Rollins tallied 666 PAs in 2013, meaning he will only need 434 trips to the plate in 2014 to secure an $11MM salary in 2015. Should the option not vest, the Phillies will then hold an $8MM club option on Rollins. In the event that the Phillies decline that option, Rollins would then have a $5MM player option.
Reports this summer indicated that Rollins was not willing to waive his full no-trade clause, so the fact that the Phillies are open to moving him at this time might be a non-issue. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked in late August if he thought Rollins would benefit from a change of scenery, to which he replied, "You'd have to ask Jimmy," before going on to state: "Jimmy is our shortstop. We signed him for a reason."
The Phillies are probably very willing to get rid of pretty much all their contracts. Hamels, Rollins, probably Howard if that were even possible…
do you think they put quotation signs up when they said “willing”?
I don’t think Hamels is going anywhere for awhile. He’s young enough to be a part of a youth movement.
I think all this is just due diligence for when July 31st rolls around.
i think amaro is just so clueless. and hamels would be first to go since he dared to question the clubhouse and the team amaro built
I actually think he knows what he’s doing. They’re rebuilding they just won’t admit it. They’re trying to keep fan interest by signing names like Utley and Ruiz to contracts as they wait for the untradeable (Howard, Rollins, Pap, etc) contracts to expire.
They’re not going to punt until July I would think.
I would tend to agree with you on their intentions. The problem is:
1 – If they are trying to maintain fan interest, it doesn’t seem to be working. Most of the fans I interact with are furious over the way they have handle this, as well as the last two, off-seasons.
2 – It is hard to give them the benefit of the doubt when they are still run by the same ownership group that once punted almost an entire decade, refusing to try until they got a new ballpark, because right now, it feels the same way…almost as if they are not going to try until they get more money coming in from the new TV deal. But that money won’t start coming in until the 2016 season, and there is not a ton in the farm system to believe they will have a solid foundation then which they might be able to supplement with significant FA signings.
And given Ruben Amaro’s track record, if they are willing to admit they are rebuilding in July, he is the last person I want handling ANOTHER important Trade Deadline.
Rebuilding requires the acquisition of young talent and prospects. So far this has not happened. And like others, I do not trust Amero and this ownership group. He has gotten nothing for anyone else so why start now
Of course they want to move him and his 11 mil, not going to find any takers though.
Ichiro and Nix for Papelbon and Rollins?
Nix was non tendered, and even if he was still on the team there is Zero chance (actually less than a Zero chance) the Phillies would do that trade. Even if the Yankees had to pay off the contracts.
I would think the phillies would do that 100 times out of 100.
I agree with you Amaro would do that
Not interested in Rollins; if they eat a good amount of his contract, Papelbon could be useful to the Yankees.
Taking back Ichiro and the $6.5MM that he is due in 2014 is basically the same as eating a good amount of Papelbon’s contract. If the Yankees cannot get Stephen Drew or Brandon Phillips, I don’t think that Rollins would be a terrible Plan C.
He’s due $11 million in 2014 and if he reaches 500 ABs in 2014 (he had 600 ABs in 2013), he gets a $11 million option for 2015. I’m fine with effectively paying $5 million for Rollins in 2014 but I’m not sure I would want to shell out $11 million for him in 2015. His numbers were in 2013 were .252/.318/.348 and his defense is declining. I’m sure someone could point out Jeter’s declining skills, on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball and the fact that the Yankees just gave him $12 million for 2014 but to them I say, first, 2 wrongs don’t make a right and one dumb decision doesn’t mean they have to/should make another one and second, the $12 million was partially due to his Yankee lineage. I don’t want to shell out $11 million in 2015 for a sub-par shortstop.
I just do not see Amaro as a GM other teams would call up for a trade.
The Phillies seem very willing to move anyone (Lee, Hammels, Papelbon and now Rollins). Still if their asking price is anything like what they are for Lee, Hammels and Papelbon, Rollins isn’t going anywhere. Aging veterans on expensive contract have little trade value
They’re not willing to move Hamels. They were just listening to offers to see if someone would go crazy. They’re not going to trade arguably their biggest attraction before they sign their TV contract.
Other Teams “Very Unwilling” To Trade For Jimmy Rollins
I wish the Rangers would trade Andrus in a deal for David Price then pick up Rollins as a salary dump from the Phillies…
The Rangers would have to eat far too much of Andrus’ contract for that to work…
I wish the rangers would do something 🙂
reading something like this makes me really glad jim hendry isn’t the gm of my favorite team anymore.
Rollins would actually be a pretty reasonable investment, money-wise, for Seattle in its quest for instant legitimacy. He’d add to the good mix they’re building there. But I’m not sure he’d waive his no-trade to go there.
Why spend $11MM on Rollins when they could probably get similar production out of Nick Franklin for a nickel (comparatively)?
Franklin ? M’s SS is Brad Miller. 🙂 The only guys SEA should be looking at or Brown and Hammels(sp).
not that Rollins can, but can Franklin really play SS?
Franklin came up through Seattle’s minor league system as a SS. He was moved to 2B just last year.
I agree, depending on the deal obviously. But a change of scenary could do him some good. If not, as long as Seattle doesnt have to give up too much and Phillies pay a chunk of his salary, could be a good move.
If he was younger I could see it, but he isn’t really a change of scenery candidate. The problem for him is age, 35 is not a good age for a starting shortstop.
plus change of scenary to safeco isn’t something i’d bet on unless he was a pitcher.
Good call. Although that was my thought as well, Jeter has been playing fairly decent at SS (although is becoming more often injured.)
I just think that if he is cheap enough, may be worth a gamble and it sounds like the Phillies are willing to do a lot to get rid of their aging players.
$11M for a 35 year old shortstop with a .650 ops, with an easily attainable vesting option is not a good investment.
.542 OPS got Jeter 12M. 11M for .650 seems like a bargain compared to that.
EDIT: and 40 yrs old too
Jeter probably makes the Yankees that in revenue.
17 games is much too small a sample size.
Jeter has never had an ops below .710 in a full season.
not like Rollins played a full season, collected 666 PA, received a salary bump because of a combination of luxury tax reasons and the fact that he’s Derek Jeter, or anything, right? Oh, and Derek Jeter’s 434th 2014 plate appearance doesn’t trigger 11 MM for 2015..
I’m not sure how spending $22MM of the next 2 years would give Seattle “instant” legitimacy. Rollings isn’t a very good fielder anymore and offensively he doesn’t bring much to the table any more.
yeah, but besides those things.
He does know how to hold both a bat and a ball!
“…and offensively he doesn’t bring much to the table any more.”
He doesn’t bring much to the table??? He has a higher pop-up rate than most active spyware! (Hey, everybody is good at something…)
I’ll go out on a limb and guess that Amaro would also be “very willing” to trade Howard also.
Wondering if ownership would be “very willing” to trade Amaro…perhaps for a warm case of Philly soft pretzels?
Can you trade Execs in a “salary dump”?
Strangest store in the mall, don’t you think. All the expensive merchandise is available, at full price, regardless of condition, but they are still bringing in new stock?
And the new stock comes from Ikea’s Scratch-and-Dent section (at full price).
Just look for a whichever team is posting that “Wanted: 35-year-old shortstop with a .253/.317/.397 triple slash from 2009-2013” ad on Craigslist.
Man, the Phillies are a train wreck of awful contracts. How does Amaro still have a job?
Jimmy’s contract was probably a year too long (meaning the easy vesting option) but it was better than the alternatives of giving Jose Reyes $100 million or starting Freddy Galvis.
Jimmy’s 3-year guarantee was four years too long, considering the Phils need to get younger at the time, his documented attitude problems and lack of work ethic, and the fact that no one else was bidding on him either (the Brewers preferred one year of Alex Gonzalez to three years of Jimmy Rollins…yet the Phillies chose to give him 3 with an easy vesting option).
People say “get younger” and expect that player to magically appear. There was nobody to get younger with. Freddy Galvis wasn’t ready.
and if the Brewers prefered one year of Alex Gonzalez to three years of Jimmy Rollins, why did they offer him a fourth year Guaranteed?
You can go look back and say in hindsight the Phillies should have let Rollins walk and traded Cole Hamels at the deadline for Jean Segura, and all of those things but at the time of Rollins’ deal, the Phillies were coming off a 100+ win season and were expecting to contend, they couldn’t take a chance on Freddy, and it’s a good thing they didn’t because he had a 50 game suspension.
Freddy Galvis “wasn’t ready” to take over for Jimmy Rollins after 2011…then spent the first half of 2012 as their everyday 2B…
The Brewers never offered Rollins a 4th year. Jimmy claimed to have a four-year offer on the table which he turned down to return to the Phillies. He never said it was from the Brewers, and Doug Melvin only said he never made a formal offer to Rollins.
It isn’t hindsight when I (and A LOT of Phillies fans shouted down by the likes of you) said it then.
I never said anything about trading Hamels. Even though they overpaid for him, I think Hamels is the one long-term commitment Rube has made that was justifiable.
And of course, it was good they didn’t give the job to Galvis, because his 50-game suspension in 2012 would’ve really prevented them from achieving the all the non-contending they did that year and the next (and for the foreseeable future).
mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/brewers-notes-rollins-r…
He was the everyday 2nd baseman because Utley went down. and then he put up a .226/.256/.363 batting line. Tell me, does that seem ready to you?
To be a ML defensive SS who probably isn’t ever going to hit much more than that, which they have known since the day they originally signed him? Yes.
And what does it matter HOW he ended up being the 2B? You said he wasn’t ready, but when they had a need, Galvis was their first choice, and good enough to hold down the position every day until he suffered a fracture in his back. Clearly he was ready, they just failed in evaluating his “readiness”.
Do you honestly believe Freddy Galvis is ever going to hit substantially better than .226/.256/.363?
In the 2011-’12 off-season, I was a proponent of letting Rollins walk (and never considered handing $50MM to a relief pitcher), and using that money the upgrade to offense at 3B and in the OF…knowing that Galvis could handle the defense but wouldn’t hit much. I have no idea how my plan would have worked out, but theirs clearly hasn’t, thus, my ire.
Agree with Aces…the obsession with ‘getting younger’ seems to go along with an automatic ‘getting better,’ which is not the case. It was simple..the phillies didnt have a viable option to replace Jimmy internally, and the market was weak. Jimmy provided the best chance to win, and his career-worst year last year is what everyone now looks at and says “oh, you shouldnt have done that…”
Phils have some bad contracts, no doubt, and Rollins’ isn’t looking very good right now, but at the time there wasn’t many other alternatives
I said back when this deal was signed that is was an overpay, but he still had many defenders. He would probably still insist on being the leadoff hitter if he went to another team. I wouldn’t mind him as a backup shortstop option, but not at that price.
It must be finally setting in for Amaro that he can’t trade any of his players because he was the one responsible for giving them large contracts.
Had the New York Mets not overpaid for Chris Young, it would have been very wise to pursue an in Division trade with Philadelphia for Jimmy Rollins. Stranger things have happened, Philadelphia is willing to move him to clear payroll space and the Mets need a leadoff hitter and Shortstop in a market where there are little options available.
1. Rollins SS
2. Granderson CF
3. Wright 3B
That top of the order just might have given them a fighting chance in 2014.
Don’t think it was really an overpay. Young is a poor man’s BJ Upton, and he signed for way less.
A poor man’s BJ Upton does not exist.
Similar stats, for way less money. And you only had to give out a 1 year deal.
I’m not sure what that means, but Upton blew chunks in Atlanta.
It did before Joey Gathright retired
I could call Young a poor man’s Curtis Granderson, actually. But I agree, not an overpay.
A .318 OBP is not what you want out of a leadoff hitter. Rollins owns a career .327 OBP and a .269 AVG. In point of fact, he’s a lousy leadoff hitter, and now he’s lost a step in the field. Philly missed the curve for dealing him. Too bad.
funny thing i was just thinking the same thing. what about duda for rollins and cash. get a young first baseman to replace the aging howard.
No they wouldn’t, they’d get Duda. Hey as a Mets fan, I’m all for it, but there is no way that happens.
The last time the Mets and Phillies made a significant trade, the Phillies got Lenny Dykstra and the Mets Juan Samuel…
…most Mets fans are still seething about it.
Plus, with Rollins’s pop-up issues, and Granderson’s K’s, that top of the order would have the Mets’ best run producer hitting with the bases empty and two FAAAAAAR too often.
My first thought was the Mets should offer salary relief and see if Amaro bites… That’ll give the Mets an upgrade at short, and the Phils the salary relief they need…
I was very willing to sell my van after the engine started to leak oil.
If they’re looking to potentially shed Hamels, Lee and Rollins, why sign Ruiz and Byrd?
Does Rube really look like a guy with a plan? You know what he is? He’s a dog chasing cars. He wouldn’t know what to do with one if he caught it. You know, he just…”does” things.
You wanna know how I got these scars? Well it started by giving a 1B with Montana-sized holes in his swing a $125M extension two years before his current deal was up. Then I gave a closer a 4 year contract and gave up a draft pick a week before they changed the rules on free agent compensation. Why so serious, Phillies fans?
I wonder if playing with Jeter in New York would be enticing for Jimmy Rollins should the Yankees show interest. Rollins and Sabathia are fairly close as well.
I still don’t see him going anywhere before July though, if at all given his no trade clause and desire to be the franchise leader in a number of categories.
Do not want….do not…want. In all seriousness, I really hope not.
Impossible. No one would take his salary
Dodgers. Moving Ramirez to 3B. Do it. Do it. Do it, please.
They just signed Juan Uribe…not that that would stop them I suppose.
Why move Hanley to 3B to accommodate a 35 year old, overpaid, defensively limited SS who just finished his worst season of the decade.
Because I want them to
Smart idea by Phili. They should try to get younger
“Smart idea by Phili.” – said no one ever, since RAJ arrived.
“They should try to get younger” – said everyone, everywhere…4 years ago.
So everyone was calling for the Phillies to get younger 4 years ago? Coming off a WS loss and prior to a 97 and 102 win season? Sure.
It was an exaggeration, but yes. Many said, after they won in 08, they would be unwise to commit to the whole Championship team, and would need to infuse youth.
I don’t remember that.
Yea, Jeff. That’s why so many people were furious at Amaro for trading away that amazing youth (Drabek, Taylor, D’Arnaud) to get an old hack like Halladay.
I do.
It was often pointed out that Howard, Utley, Rollins, Ruiz, Victorino and Werth were all within 2-3 years of each other, and you couldn’t carry them all into their mid-30’s.
They chose to commit to all of the oldest of that bunch, and simultaneously infuse no youth (except Pence, who they discarded for virtually nothing).
Yea, I guess Revere, Dom, Asche, and 70% of the bullpen just slipped your mind when you talk about “infusing no youth”.
Revere and Dom, fair point. 2 whole players.
I guess the fact that everyone else you mentioned was a minor league call-up to replace an injured, or failed, older player brought in by Rube just slipped your mind.
Michael Young, Chad Durbin, Chad Qualls, Mike Adams…
On top of overcommitment to Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley…
Since 2009, the average age on the roster for the Phillies has dropped 1.3 years for batters (it was 31.3 in 2009, 30.0 last year) and 2.5 years for pitchers (31.2 in 2009, 28.7 last year). They have made strides toward getting younger. You can’t get younger in a day, and still be competitive.
They’ve added 3 “old” BP guys in 4 years, while adding younger pieces to their pen (De Fratus, Antonio, Diekman, Rosenberg, Stutes). Everyone and their mother knew that MY was a stopgap 3B. He was there to give Asche time to get up to the big leagues (Asched started the 2012 season in A+ ball, and was at 70 games in AA before this season started – it wasn’t like they were holding him back in the system). You do realize that most young players get their jobs because of injuries or failings of older players, right? Very few minor league players are given the job because they have a good season in the minors. And I’d still take Howard, Rollins, and Utley over the other players on the market at the time they were FAs.
DeFratus, Bastardo, Diekman and Rosenberg all deubted in the big leagues as a result of either A. injury, or B. the team being out of contention (largely due to injuries).
They have not made a CONSCIOUS effort to get younger. The minor, minor, MINOR movements toward a slightly younger roster have been a result of all of the bad moves Amaro has made ending up on the DL.
The only conscious effort to get younger were Brown and Revere…in 2013. What about prior to 2012? Or 2011? (I will warrant you they couldn’t turn over half the roster with kids while trying to contend, but despite the claims you are attempting to make, they made virtually NO effort to get younger at more than perhaps one roster spot in each of those years.)
3 way between Reds, Yankees, Phillies involving Phillips, Ichiro, Utley, Rollins, Papelbon, Cozart and Cueto
Utley is not going anywhere, he has a full no trade clause and has not displayed any desire to leave Philly
Both Utley and Rollins have FNTCs…it probably wouldn’t be feasible/possible to get both of them to waive them.
Who would replace him at short? Omar Vizquel?
Too young!
Honus Wagner?
10-5 rights. He won’t get moved. And honestly, he’s lived up to the contract (for people calling it an overpay). He’s produced a 6.4 fWAR (and a 2.6 rWAR) in the 2 seasons since signing. So even if you split the difference between the two, it’s a 4.5 WAR (which would value him at approximately $22.5 M over the first two years – he was paid $22 M).
Its not that he hasn’t “lived up to it” so far, its the unlikely chances of him being worth $22 million over the next two seasons that would have teams balking to trade for him.
After Sandberg took over last year, Jimmy put up a .250/.350/.360 line. Most importantly, his BB and SO totals were equal (23). A fresh voice is probably going to help him. While I don’t think Charlie was a major problem, he did seem to let his guys slide a little (Jimmy being the biggest case). Ryne doesn’t look to have any problems making players accountable – and has even asked Jimmy to take on a bigger leadership role. Steamer/Oliver projections (from Fangraphs) have him at a 2.1 WAR projection next year (which would still have him living up to the contract).
I dont necessarily disagree with you there but the history of SS over the age of 35 being effective is a pretty short one…plus adding on that 2015 season too makes it a tough sell to an opposing GM.
Different points I guess. Mine was that he’s not getting moved and to say the Phillies should just dump him is off. Your point (in my opinion) is that it’d be difficult to move him.
The only way Rollins might be willing to waive his NTC is to go to a contender after setting the team records he wants to. He’s 60 hits and 263 at-bats from breaking Schmidt’s franchise marks. He’d have a shot at Schmidt’s franchise mark in plate appearances if he were to play pretty much everyday the next 2 seasons, but 1161 plate appearances over 2 years is a lot for a player at his age.
His last 3 year’s PA were 631, 699, and 666. With a viable SS still 2 years out (at least – in JP Crawford, Roman Quinn if you think he’ll ever hit), I don’t think 600+ next year and 500+ the year after is that far out of reach. While he’s older, he’s gotten in better shape (I think it was yoga or pilates) the last few years.
Still, 580 per year is a lot for a player 35-36 years old. He’s been very durable throughout his career, but having Galvis gives them a legit back-up option like they haven’t had for most of Rollins’ time with the Phillies.
I have no real expectations of Quinn ever being a big league SS. They should just move him back to CF when he’s healthy.
True. Only shortstops to log over 1161 PA in their age 35 and 36 seasons in the last 30 years are Jeter, Ripken, Tejada, Ozzie, and Dave Concepcion. With Marco Scutaro and Barry Larkin falling just short (less than 40 PA away). I’m not saying it’s easy – just that I think that he can get there (nobody is sure if he thinks this is his final contract or if he’ll retire after 2015, so he may have something to prove that final season – if he decides to play the following year).
RAJ: “Jimmy, we have a deal in place, but need you to waive your No Trade Protection.”
J-Roll: “Heck no, I don’t want to go anywhere until I set all those franchise records.”
RAJ: “You’re probably no going to do that from the bench, which is where you’ll be, cause we are going with Freddy Galvis as our everyday shortstop. And being on the bench here is going to cost you that vesting option, as well.”
J-Roll: “What’s the deal, which team, and what do I get out of it?”
Jimmy’s probable main goals were to win a world series, an MVP, make a lot of money and leave his mark with the Phillies by breaking records held by some of the most recognizable names in Phillies history. As Jeff said, he’s 60 hits away from breaking the Phillies hits record. He already has the most doubles. What would intice him to leave now? A chance at an MVP somewhere else? not likely, a World Series win? He already has one, Money? He’s made nearly 100 million in his career by the time his current contract is up. He wants that hits record for the Phillies. Perhaps after this season (or even mid-season) he’ll waive it but not now, not when he is so close.
He should reach both those marks by the start of June. Maybe he’ll be willing to waive his NTC if the Phillies aren’t playing well by that point, which most people believe will be the case.
J-Roll’s offseason workout plan: “Monday… count my money… Tuesday… county money… Wednesday… “
As a Mets fan I wish Mr. Rollins a clean bill of health. I also hope the Phillies cannot move him. Not only is it a bad contract for the Phillies, but it also takes them out of the short stop market next offseason
“Hi this is Ruben, help.”
Okay. Try not batting someone with a low OBP in the lead-off spot. That should turn around the Phillies right there, and make the rest of the old guys look better.
Rollins and Hamels for Tyson Ross and Headley
No thanks.
Now that Jose Reyes is out of the division, Rollins just can’t find the desire anymore.
There will always be teams that will want Papelbon and Rollins at the deadline.
yes, as long as the phillies are willing to eat some money.
He would be a great fit in Oakland. This would allow the A’s to move Lowrie to 2B, and give the team an added veteran presence. Rollins is from Alameda, so it would be a bit of a homecoming, and give him the chance to play for a team that has the ability to win now. It would be a good match.
If the deal would include Renato Nunez going to the Phillies I’d do that.
Rollins to the Pirates for OF Josh Bell.
The Pirates upgrade at SS until Alen Hanson is ready and the Phillies get a good OF prospect to hopefully build around in a couple years.
Is it weird that I actually like this? Marte/Rollins/McCutchen/Alvarez/1B/Walker/Martin/Tabata then, in the 2nd half: Marte/Polanco/McCutchen/Alvarez/1B/Rollins/Martin/Walker
It’s not a bad deal. SS is the Pirates only glaring weakness and Josh Bell should be about the asking price for Jimmy Rollins.
You’d have to add $$ since the option will likely vest for 2015 (either 5 MM Player, 8 MM Club, or 11 MM Vesting).
Wouldn’t have to be much, maybe $2.5M/year. The Pirates have a projected payroll around $61M right now and will get about $84M in TV money, revenue sharing and mass media. They might want the Phillies to send money for Rollins, but they probably don’t actually need it.
I think to even get Josh Bell they’d have to send money though.
I wish RAJ would be aggressive in an effective manner. Like aggressively acquiring young talent vs aggressively re-signing aging players from 2008.
I had 1969 Chevy truck that cracked a head several years ago. I was “very willing” to sell it. Problem was everyone else wanted me to pay them to take it.
LOL Phillies!
Monday: Phillies sign Carlos Ruiz to 3 yr deal.
Friday: Phillies “open” to trading Carlos Ruiz.
JRoll probably only going to a West Coast contender – so A’s, Halos, and Dodgers all potential landing spots. As many have said – he’ll want to lock up some records first. If he is dealt, and he’s bound to vest his option, I’d imagine some $ would have to be involved.
I’m not unhappy with Jimmy at SS. I am unhappy that it looks like he’ll bat out of the 2-hole this year. He’d be fine 7th or 8th but unless they have Utley move up I don’t see who else would even fit with Revere at the top. Maybe Sandberg will jostle the roles around this year more than Manuel was willing to do with Howard,Utley and Rollins.