Jimmy Rollins Trade Rumor? Don't Believe It

by David S. Cohen on Nov 7, 2008 12:44 PM EST Comment 15 comments

Making the round this week are rumors that the Phillies will listen to trade offers involving Jimmy Rollins.

I have absolutely no inside information, but I have to believe this is just completely false. I cannot imagine a scenario in which the Phillies would realistically think of trading Jimmy Rollins. (OK, maybe that's a stretch - a trade of Rollins for David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Johan Santana with the Mets eating the salary difference is one I'd consider.) There are countless reasons why:

He's a fan favorite.
He's a Gold Glove shortstop that is a key part of the Phillies' excellent up-the-middle defense.
At $7.5M per year for 2009 and 2010 with an $8.5M club option for 2011, Rollins is an MLB bargain.
He's a recent MVP and three-time All-Star who is entering only his age 30 season.
His OBP is getting better as he gets older (.334 in 2006, .344 in 2007, .349 in 2008).
His SLG had been improving as well (.431 in 2005, .478 in 2006, .531 in 2007), but this year it was down significantly (.437). Many (including myself) speculated that his power struggles this year were due to lingering effects of his early injury.
He's durable, with only one stint on the DL in his career.
He's a great baserunner (47 for 50 this year), contributing to the Phillies' historically great efficiency on the basepaths.
The Phillies have no one near his caliber ready to replace him as their every-day shortstop.

Jimmy Rollins is too valuable a property for the Phillies to consider trading. Don't believe any of the rumors to the contrary that are circulating.

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yeah, there's no shot

Even if his 2008 was his norm, and he offered nothing beyond the offensive numbers, and wasn’t a Gold Glove defender, that contract is such a value that there’s no way they would move him.

Given all those things, though, presumably it would take something like (to use a Bay Area example) Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain to pry him loose.

by dajafi on Nov 7, 2008 12:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I'd do that

I’d take those two! Although throw in a shortstop prospect too…

by David S. Cohen on Nov 7, 2008 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, trading Rollins would be pretty much the dumbest idea of all time.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Nov 7, 2008 5:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Adam Eaton

by jemagee on Nov 7, 2008 8:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We still won a WS with that dumbest idea…

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Nov 7, 2008 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Achieving something in spite of a seriously dumb idea does not discount the seriously dumb idea.

by jemagee on Nov 9, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

if the team had a SS ready and waiting, that’d be fine…..but Bruntlett is not the SS of the future. Who are we trading him for?

by Bilzo on Nov 7, 2008 8:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Amaro shoots this down

Pretty much as expected:

Amaro said rumors that the Phillies would listen to offers for shortstop Jimmy Rollins were “ludicrous.” Rollinsis one of the best leadoff hitters and shortstops in the game. His five-year, $40 million contract might be one of the best bargains in baseball. He will make just $8.5 million next season and $8.5 million in 2010. The Phillies also have an $8.5 million club option for 2011, which they almost certainly will pick up if he stays healthy. “Jimmy Rollins is our shortstop, for now and the future,” Amaro said. “That rumor is unequivocally false.” . . .

by dajafi on Nov 8, 2008 1:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know it is silly, but...

Just here me out on this one. I know it is never going to happen, but I would trade Rollins for Lincecum straight up, without even thinking twice. I would easily ship rollins to the west coast in order to bring back Lincecum to form the best starting rotation in the National League with Hamels, Lincecum, Myers, Blahton, Moyer, Happ, and Carrasco. I would take the extra money saved, and make Hamels cost controlled for the next 3-4 years, and finally, I would happily welcome Jason Donald onto the 2009 Phillies team to be my everyday shortstop. Am I crazy? Crazy like a fox…

by Neduol Caz on Nov 8, 2008 2:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

not crazy at all

That’s absolutely a defensible trade. Lincecum might win the Cy Young this year, he’s younger, and he’s cheaper. And that rotation would be sick. If the Giants were willing to do that—which I really doubt; my earlier trade idea was meant as a joke—the Phils absolutely would have to think hard about it.

Personally I might not do it, only because one, I worry about the injury risk for a guy whose physique and mechanics are as unique as Lincecum, and two, I think Rollins probably is more important to the personality of this team than any other single player other than, maybe, Utley—and when the team is a world champion, that’s nothing to screw around with. But on paper it’s probably a great trade for the Phils.

by dajafi on Nov 8, 2008 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I worry about the injury risk and the alcoholism risk….

by David S. Cohen on Nov 8, 2008 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Alcohlism risk?

by jemagee on Nov 8, 2008 8:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

See: All Star Game, 2008.

by FuquaManuel on Nov 8, 2008 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, I’ve heard other serious concerns from those in the San Francisco area about him.

by David S. Cohen on Nov 8, 2008 8:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Injury risk is minimal

There was a ton of discussion about this at www.minorleagueball.com, and for the most part there were a lot of scientifically oriented articles discussing Lincecum’s mechanics as, while odd, not particularly stressful. If he gets injured, it won’t be due to his mechanics. It’ll be due to his being a pitcher.

by Alon on Nov 10, 2008 1:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs