What does Reyes deal mean for Rollins?
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What does Reyes deal mean for Rollins?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Jose Jose Jose. (Jeff Roberson/AP)
DALLAS — The lobby at the Hilton Anatole was abuzz Sunday night and for the second straight year, a Phillies division foe made early noise at the winter meetings. Jose Reyes is off the board, with a six-year, $106 million deal reportedly in tow to Miami.
That, of course, leaves Jimmy Rollins as the top prize in the shortstop market. Little has changed on that front since Rollins sat in the basement at Citizens Bank Park and declared he wanted a five-year contract this winter. And if there was any option added to the deal, it would be "my option."
Reyes will earn $17.7 million annually and that's about where baseball people had him projected at the beginning of the winter. What affect it has on Rollins is likely minimal. Rollins has his demands and for now, he'll stick with them. The Phillies are hesitant to award anything above a three-year contract and will wait.
There is likely little effect because the market for Reyes appeared to be limited to the Marlins and Mets. Both the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals have a need for a shortstop, but those two clubs have bigger goals. That's why Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder could have a greater effect on Rollins' fate than Reyes.
Milwaukee is interested in at least kicking the tires on Rollins. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel termed the Brewers' interest in Rollins as "serious" and reported GM Doug Melvin will meet with Rollins' agent, Dan Lozano, in Dallas. The Phillies will also hear Lozano's pitch sometime this week.
If the Brewers or Cardinals do not retain their superstar first basemen, they will have money to spend. That could be the method in which Rollins achieves a market and raises his price. Milwaukee, specifically, appears to be a wild card in the negotiations.
But for now, the Phillies see no reason to jump the gun in signing a long-term deal with Rollins. It's a strange feeling, especially for a front office that set the market with Ryan Howard's five-year, $125 million deal in early 2010 and Jonathan Papelbon's four-year, $50 million contract earlier this winter.
Other than Rollins' deal, the Phillies have little left to accomplish this winter. Fourteen players are guaranteed money in 2012 and five others are eligible for arbitration. Cole Hamels' extension will become a priority, probably in January. Those two sides have yet to engage in talks, but they will sometime this winter.
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Comments (49)
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With the signing of all these band-aids(Wiggington,Thome,Nix) I trust that Rube has something up his sleeve. I believe the Phils will surprise us once again with an early Christmas present.(Hallady,Lee) Look for a 3rd baseman or shortstop trade. Please Santa Rube please.- Why would Hamels' long term contract become a probability in January Matt? Shouldn't Amaro atleast wait until spring training or the reg season to make sure HE CAN EVEN THROW AGAIN! Why would he tie up years and mega millions on a pitcher who may not even be a shadow of what he once was? A pitcher I might add who never did fulfill his potential to begin with.— Mark1npt
- The Cuz- you apparently have no understanding of basic economics, it is supply and demand. Rollins is the best SS option left and there are still a number of teams that need a SS he will also get overpaid because there aren't any other impact option left at the position. I still wouldn't give him five years, but he will probably get it from somewhere. With the Phillis complete mis-handling of Dom Brown, they should just add him as a piece of a package and try to pry Lowrie or Scutaro away from the Red Sox.— Ed Gein
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- Cuz, love your political rants. — bearsfriend
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- I got to tell you guys -- I don't even know why I read the articles. I should just come straight to the posts ...
You guys are killin' me. I'd seriously pay good money to read this stuff. Can't wait to find out what's on page 2. Keep up the good work!— CaptMorgan - JRoll does not drive the ship, even on those rare occasions when he's healthy and actually getting a few hits. Pitching drives the Phillies.— 4thand10
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- Wait...not to pile on here, but I think you have used more than your allotment of metaphors, most of them misplaced...'Professor of Economics...followed by nuclear scientist'. Huh?!....'outside the box'...'dust settles'. Come on man, you can be more original that that....And, btw, you didn't 'coin' the phrase, 'You can't handle the truth'..you simply used it....Now, back to baseball. — dirttracker
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- Can I use that 25 cents to buy you a sense of humor? Obviously, you need one. Lighten up. If you ride tall on a high horse, it just makes it easier for the snipers. — dirttracker
- Sorry, Phigtins fans, but it's time to bid JRoll a fond farwell.— Phront_Runner
- Still say we need to add a 3rd basemen to the team and let Polanco be the super replacement player who plays 3rd, SS and 2nd during the season and gives us a hitter on the bench for ave. That would be everything we need except for maybe a relief pitcher— srcdaddy1216
- After the Reyes signing. Jroll is as good as gone. There is no way RAJ will offer him what another team does, nor should he. He will not settle for 3-4 mil a year which is about what he is worth now. Christmas came early for JRoll. I agree with Devil Boy that Rube will surprise us with something in our stocking.— TedR
- Mark1npt apparently missed the last two seasons and is living in November 2009. What potential has he not lived up to? Besides the WS MVP in 2008 (remember that?) he has been excellent the last two years, and really matured into a true Ace this past season. He had sports hernia surgery, not arm surgery, and that is no threat. In fact he was throwing great even with the surgery, including game 3 against STL. You are either trying to get a reaction or you are truly an uninformed commenter.— Phils Phan 28
- Actually Phan...Mark is a sharp tool and has a medical backround...Cole did have loose bodies cleaned out of his elbow 6 weeks ago (along with the hernia)...Mark has posted many times about the dangers of elbows...no rush to extend Cole..I agree with you that he is a special pitcher. — bearsfriend
- Mark also predicted the demise of Hamel's arm in 2010. He diagnosed the bad elbow by Hamel's inability to locate the fastball early in the season. He may be a sharp tool...but, he was flat wrong two full seasons ago. For some reason he hates Hamels...That aside, why would the Phils NOT want to sign Hamels as soon as possible? — dirttracker
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- Wow. Are you this defensive when your mom tells you it's time to go to bed too? — dirttracker
- I think the Phils would be better suited signing Alex Gonzalez to play SS for a year if Jimmy won't take 3 years and Aramis Ramirez to play 3rd base.— dab282
- I think the Phils would be better suited signing Alex Gonzalez to play SS for a year if Jimmy won't take 3 years and Aramis Ramirez to play 3rd base.— dab282
- Boy oh boy, Miami is stockpiling the clowns. Ramirez,Ozzie Guillen, and now Reyes.— dasher
- I agree with the writer that Pulois/Fielder actually may affect J Roll more than Reyes, who is in a higher class as far as power contract potential...If somehow the Cards lose Pujois (Cubs?)...then I'd see them offering Jimmy a great deal...All signs are for Rollins to return if he doesn't get swooned like he's hoping...3 years, bonus incentives with a team option for a 4rth...Informal talks about a potential move to third down the line, as well as place in the order...— bearsfriend
@PP28 - Hamels also had surgery on his elbow this offseason...— Sam Crow- Miami will eventually become a serious threat. They have always shown their ability to develop top talent, but have not been able to hold onto it due to financial constraints. With the new stadium, their latin flavor management, and their proximity to the carribbean, they will be a force for a long time. This may end up being a very tough division for years to come. Miami's challenge will be keeping their team disciplined and on the same page, a classic problem for that culture which we've seen play out in Queens for years now. I detest Reyes and hopefully his (and Hanley's) attitude will tank the Marlins... but I doubt it.
As for SS, we need to thank JRoll for his service and let him walk. Then sign a stopgap like furcal, alex gonzalez, etc. while developing a prospect.— MattPSU - Matt, all of your points rate merit ( I also think the Nats and Braves will be real good)...The thing with the Marlins that's weird is whereas the Phillies exploded with the opening of CBP...Thome,espectability,great young players to today's legion of fandom....The South Florida community does not come out to see the team..The demographic that insisted on MLB to come to South Florida has died off, and while I agree with the route that the Marlins are taking, the people have to come out and SUPPORT this club that will have a boatload of big money players (down the line Josh Johnson,Ramirez...Stanton,Morrison). — bearsfriend
- New ballpark is in a better and more 'secure' location. — Romus
- Jimmy Rollin's still formidable defensive skills are absolutely necessary for 2012. Compromise at 4 years and move on.— tommazza
- Sign J Roll for REASONABLE dollars or let him move on and saddle some other team with his unreasonable contract demands.
While his fielding remains excellent, his bat and base running have become average and there are plenty of above average defensive minded shortstops in the league that will work for far less money than Rollins is asking for.
J Roll is a good guy and it was fun while it lasted but there's no reason to have him around for another 4-5 years. Peace out, Jimmy.— PinkstonsStrengthCoach - I would think Reyes getting 6 and not 7 years should help the Phils get Rollins for 3 with the 4th yr option.— regassert6
- Mark 1npt - first: "a shadow of what he once was" then: "Hamels never did fulfill his potential?" Any other brilliant remarks you want to add to that? Do you watch any Phillies' games? Do us a favor and sell your computer. You are a load.— dwp66
- I am so happy that Reyes went elsewhere rather than here. I would imagine it doesn't make Wheeler happy since he always seems ready to kiss Reyes's behind! We don't need some flake like him here. I mean Reyes, not necessarily Wheels!— erniebanks14
- "What affect it has on Rollins is likely minimal." Exactly. The years don't affect Rollins because he's much older so no one will give him a deal as long as the Reyes deal was. The dollars don't impact him either because no one was putting him in the same class as Reyes for annual salary. The reasons Reyes didn't have more suitors is because he's a head case and many teams didn't want to commit that amount of money for 5-7 years on a guy with character issues and a history of getting injured. The Marlins are desperate with their new stadium to get talent on that team so they overpaid in terms of years and dollars.
— JimG - Mark1. It think Jauary is the target becasue they want to get it done and avoid arbitration in February.— Scorekeeper
- I read some where Hanley Ramirez does not want to play third base. You think mayber just maybe we luck out and get him?
BECAUSE FOR MY MONEY HANLEY IS BETTER THAN BOTH REYES AND ROLLINS AT SHORTSTOP. And Aramis at third for the Phils? Wow that should put some scare at opposing pitchers.— wildgreenman - No effect because Rollins is a winner and a team player while Reyes is a Loser and plays for himself. He is the most selfish player in the game!— jpelle36
- Cuz, thompson, Ed Gein, Buzkill......love it when all us Phightin's get together for 'hot stove'....keep it comin'— Romus
- the rube has nothing up his sleeve --he's simply clueless, see, e.g., Blanton extension, trade of Lee to Seattle for 3 burgers, signing of Ibanez, Baez, Polanco, contreras, Schneider, Gload, etc; the single worst contract in baseball history ($150 million for a dh who can't hit lefties) when no extension was even necesary for another 1 1/2 yrs; re-signing of Schneider, getting Nix, overpaying for Papelbon instead of superior Madson, etc etc etc -only thing up his sleeve is up his other area— warbiscuit
- Reyes face looks like an inner city mt rushmore. I've never seen so many different angles/styles on one noggin in all my life.
— Sackbutt
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About this blog
The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
Inquirer Staff Writer
Bob Brookover
Inquirer Baseball Columnist
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