All signs indicate a Rollins deal is close
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All signs indicate a Rollins deal is close
Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover
DALLAS — No, it's not done yet. But it's close.
The signs at the Anatole Hilton were overwhelming Wednesday that the Phillies neared an accord with longtime shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
Their top competition for his services, the Milwaukee Brewers, were told not to bother continuing talks with Rollins, a baseball source said.
"That's good news, I guess," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "I haven't heard that yet. I hope it's true."
Paul Kinzer, the agent for Aramis Ramirez, said no talks were happening with the Phillies. Ramirez was the team's top alternative to signing Rollins, who has been the priority all winter.
An erroneous report surfaced Wednesday evening that Rollins had agreed to terms. That was not the case, a baseball source said. But there was optimism toward a pact.
The timetable for a deal is unclear, but Amaro said Wednesday afternoon he had yet to meet with Rollins' agent, Dan Lozano. Lozano was busy finalizing a deal for his other client, Albert Pujols. Once that deal is done, Lozano can turn his focus to Rollins.
"No different. No change," Amaro said. "Still optimistic and hopeful. The goal remains the same, to bring him back."
A baseball source said the current market (or lack thereof) means Rollins will probably sign a three-year deal with an annual average value of $10 to $12 million per season. The Phillies could include some sort of option for a fourth year. Rollins stated his desire for a five-year deal at the beginning of the winter.
That source said Rollins was probably worth around $9 million per season to any other club but likened Rollins' situation to that of Derek Jeter's from a year ago. The Yankees signed Jeter to a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year although there was no clear bidding for his services.
Jeter, of course, has spent his entire career with one team. And Rollins could take a giant step shortly toward doing the same with the Phillies.
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As the Cards gain momentum to retain Pujols, and the Brewers saying "no thanks" to Jimmy's demands...the market has shrunk some for him...The Giants never materialized for him....Hope it's a fair deal for him and the club.— bearsfriend- Brewers were ruses - 'we was used'! Looks like the 3 + 1 deal - hope he signs - and the FA market stays as volatile as ever with projected movers staying and projected stayers moving. Smoke in the Gio G rumors, but no fire....yet. Wouldn't be surprised to see Blanton moved, plus one of the young relievers, to keep a 'four aces' rotation, even one with 3 lefties. But Gio G matches up better with a Marlins or other small market club better than on Phils.
Now the posters can go on a (J) Roll about the 'duds' - and with the status quo more than change post-2011 season, expect the vitriol to begin and never lag until they are proven right - even if 2012 is a Championship year.— 24sDad - If it turns out to be 3yrs $30-36 million... Id say that is a darn fine deal for the Phils!— BammBamm
- 4 more years of Pop-Up Jimmie? Perish the thought.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- We won a world series with Jroll at short. I'll gladly take him in our lineup for three or four more years.— adipaolo
- Get it done. Rather see Jimmy than Valdez, Martinez or Galvis, the latter for few years anyway. Now RA can concentrate on one more batter, Jason Kubel, anyone?— TarHeelJack
- Wasn't the Madson deal all but done at one point? How'd that turn out?— waldo08
Comment removed.- Wouldn't it to nice to retain not only J-Roll but Ryan Madson as well?— dasher
- We'll know in a few hours if he accepts arbitration. Seems unlikely to me but some are saying it's possible.
So let's play fantasy with those few hours ... If that happened we'd have one hell of a bull-pen back end. In that case, I say you approach 2012 a bit differently and don't go for as many complete games. Trust the pen and let them earn their money. Save some of those starter arms for October.— s - Geez, say it ain' so! I too could do without EggRoll popping up or 1st pitch swinging in a 'take a pitch or 2' scenarios. Plus, I think him a bit of a creep anyways...— ratherlistenontheradio
- Comment removed.
- I'm disappointed. I am ready to end the JRoll era. Let's move on.
He's not a leader and he's not a lead-off hitter. It's hard to believe, but this team actually got older than last year. Well done, RAJ, well done.— scootch - I really hope Ruben wasn't dumb enough to sign Rollins for anything more than 3 years (would prefer two years with a club option for a third). To sign him to a longer deal would be very shortsighted. Even say Jimmy turns out to have a decent 2012 and actually hustles and stays off of the DL....those things will surely not continue in the second, third years and beyond. Plus, do not tie up all of that money on an old, oft-injured, decreasing skilled player.— MrPhillie
- I agree with scootch. JRoll, with his strikeouts, infield flies and lack of fire was the place to start saving money and get younger. You wouldn't lose much at all with Valdez at short until Galvis is ready. I'm tired of seeing him fail to move a runner or keep a rally alive with a whiff or an infield fly.— doc35
