Rollins wants 5 years
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Rollins wants 5 years
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
There is much to discuss from two press conferences today eulogizing the 2011 Phillies, but it will begin and end with Jimmy Rollins, who appears to be the linchpin on an entire winter.
Rollins, a Phillie for the last 15 years of his life, has set the bar high for his impending free agency. The soon-to-be 33-year-old shortstop wants a five-year contract.
"I'm looking to get five years," Rollins said. "If it's going to be shorter, there would have to be a fifth-year option or something like that. My option."
Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to talk specifics of a possible Rollins deal.
"I think you guys know our policy," Amaro said. "We're not going to have a discussion about our negotiations with Jimmy publicly. I think Jimmy knows exactly where we stand, whether we want him back or not. There's no question we want Jimmy back and be in our uniform and play shortstop for us for the next several years. Whether that happens kind of depends on if we get to the finish line on it. But Jimmy knows where we stand. Those things will be private."
Other quick hits:
-- Amaro does not have a timetable for Ryan Howard's recovery, but does not believe the first baseman will miss more than half of the 2012 season after Achilles surgery. He did admit that Howard's recovery could spill over into the regular season, but the team will not know for sure until after the surgery.
Howard is seeking two more opinions before surgery, but Amaro said all parties are aware of the immediacy required.
He said the injury will not affect his offseason plans.
-- Amaro said he will sign a veteran closer regardless if it's Ryan Madson or not. He is not comfortable filling it internally with a young pitcher. The team's preference is to re-sign Madson, but he could command top dollar on the market. It's a market flush with closers. Other free agents include Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell, Matt Capps, Francisco Rodriguez and Joe Nathan.
-- The GM called left field an "open competition" and then effectively annointed John Mayberry Jr. as the starter. He said he could see Mayberry with the majority of at-bats.
"We have a pretty darn good candidate in John Mayberry," Amaro said. "I think John will have a chance to get the bulk of those at-bats. We haven't made decisions on that."
He also said that Domonic Brown needs more seasoning.
"I think he's a guy who has some work to do in left field," Amaro said. "He has some things to work on as far as his hitting goes. We're going to keep our minds open. ... If I had my druthers, I would keep him at triple A and have him get 500 to 600 at-bats there and go from there."
-- Placido Polanco had double sports hernia surgery Tuesday. Amaro endorsed him as the third baseman -- in fact, he said the team needs more hitters with the approach that Polanco has.
Hunter Pence also had hernia surgery.
-- Amaro stressed the need for his offense to change its approach at the plate. He doesn't see adding another major acquisition to help the offense. The onus, he said, is on the current roster.
"The guys that are under contract right now," Amaro said, "if they don't make that adjustment, then we're going to have trouble."
-- Amaro said he has yet to speak to Roy Oswalt's agent. The pitcher has a $16 million option for 2012.
Because of the sheer amount of free agents, Amaro admitted there will be some turnover. But he did not endorse sweeping changes. More tinkering than anything.
"We'll have some changes," Amaro said.
Much, much more to come.
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Best of luck, RAJ. Can't really complain about the job he's done over the last 3 years. The rest of you will, but acquiring Lee, Halladay, Oswalt and Pence while keeping Brown, Stutes, DeFratus and Rizzotti in the organization is fine. If we need 2B or SS help it will be signed in free agency. WE'RE FINE, people.— Jaxen- 5 years?!! Ugh. No way Jose— n62
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- Its unacceptable to me that Amaro thinks all the fixes to this team offensively are in house after going backwards in the play-offs for three straight years with this team. Also, another year at Triple-A for Domonic Brown? He is like what 25 now and he still isn't ready for the major leagues? Lets trade him now before everyone realises the guy is a fraud. If I ran the team I would look to add a proven bat in left fieled (John Mayberry is a nice bench player), a good platoon 3b with some pop, and if a contract can't be reached with Rollins at a reasonable option I would explore all possible options at that poistion including Jose Reyes.— brannigan73
- D brown just turned 24( was 23 this year), no spring chicken but lets not forget Utley and Howard were both 26 in their first full seasons and we're pretty happy with those two. — mlynch79
- Rollins will be a more than solid shortstop in this league at least another 5 years. He changed his conditioning last off season and really turned the clock back in comparison to '09 and '10.— thefadd
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- WOW...Ruben Amaro actually answers questions with TRUTHFUL answers....what a refreshing change from the dispised Eagles management.— frank105
- No!— Cryptker
- Five more years of Jimmy Pop-up? No thanks— JamesJ
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- LOL...Mr. Pop Up wants a 5 yr deal from the Phils then he is good as gone...thanks for the memories J-Roll...will be interesting to see who is stupid enough to give J-Roll 5 years...can't wait to see if he gets it...— tralala
- It ended bitterly but hey, the Red Sox didn't make the playoffs and the Yanks were out early, too. That's baseball. This Phils was clearly better than anyone else, so you tinker. It's easy to be emotional and make wholesale changes, but it's the wrong way to go. That said, 5 years is too long for Jimmy. If he wants it that bad, he can follow in Jayson Werth's footsteps.— everydayguy
