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It took long enough.
After six long days of saying goodbye to the franchise's all-time hits leader, reports late Thursday night indicated the Phillies' trade of Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers is a done deal.
The delay hinged on a corresponding move the Dodgers had in place with San Diego regarding Matt Kemp. One of the pitchers they were to get back in that deal, Zach Eflin, would be part of the Rollins deal as well.
But Kemp apparently has the hips of a 50-year-old former NFL linebacker, which was causing some problems for San Diego. Happily, it appears the waiting is all behind us now.
It appears Dodgers and Padres have worked through lingering issues. They are all but done with the Kemp trade. Rollins coming from Philly.
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) December 19, 2014
Jimmy Rollins deal is finally close, source said. It's going to happen. J-Roll head to Cali.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 19, 2014
Source says final details of Rollins to Dodgers deal being buttoned up now as Kemp to SD is finalized.
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) December 19, 2014
In other words, #Dodgers still sending Kemp and $32M to #Padres for Grandal, Wieland, Eflin. And Eflin will go to #Phillies in Rollins deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 19, 2014
There it is from @TBrownYahoo: Kemp to San Diego is done. Rollins to Dodgers is done, too. For all the consternation, worked out in the end.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 19, 2014
So the Phillies will get Eflin as well as Dodgers' pitcher Tom Windle, both decent prospects in exchange for Rollins.
But it wasn't without some drama and a very long goodbye to the greatest shortstop in franchise history.
Our long national nightmare is finally over.