What is so wrong about the Rollins contract?
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What is so wrong about the Rollins contract?
David Murphy
Among the litany of complaints that I have heard about this Phillies team, the one that confuses me most involves the four-year, $38 million deal that Jimmy Rollins signed this offseason. I expounded on that confusion in today's Daily News, which you can read here. Now is an interesting time to have this discussion, because the last time the Phillies played the Dodgers, Rollins was also a focal point. It was early June, and Rollins was coming off an awful two-month start to the season. The start of a four-game home series against the Dodgers brought plenty of questions from reporters about whether Rollins should continue to leadoff, or whether Juan Pierre should assume those duties. They were legitimate questions at the time. So were the questions about Rollins' contract when he signed it.
What I don't understand is how anybody can look at anything that has happened since both of those occasions and use it to denigrate Rollins.
On June 5, I wrote a column defending Rollins, pointing out that he usually hits well after June 1 and that Pierre lacked the power the Phillies needed in their lineup. Since that day, Rollins has hit .292 with a .354 on base percentage, a .569 slugging percentage, and seven home runs in 158 plate appearances. Pierre, meanwhile, has hit .277/.313/.383 with one home run in 102 plate appearances. Rollins has outperformed Pierre in every major category, yet some still think Pierre is more valuable to the Phillies' offense. Same goes for Freddy Galvis. Can somebody explain to me what, exactly they saw out of Galvis that makes them think that he would not be a huge offensive liability next season? In 200 plate appearances this season, Galvis hit .226 with a .254 on base percentage. Every time he stepped to the plate, he had a 75 percent chance of making an out. That matters. I understand the appeal of Galvis' defensive prowess and youthful exuberance. But you gotta hit.
My bigger point, though, is that Rollins is not as overpaid as you think he is.
Over the last two years, eight shortstops have signed multi-year deals worth at least $7 million per season. Here is how their current numbers compare:
| Player | Total $ | Years | AAV | PA | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | HR | RBI | RS |
| Derek Jeter | 51 | 3 | 17.0 | 407 | .306 | .351 | .407 | .758 | 7 | 26 | 50 |
| Jose Reyes | 106 | 6 | 17.7 | 401 | .264 | .335 | .374 | .709 | 3 | 22 | 43 |
| Jimmy Rollins | 38 | 4 | 9.5 | 396 | .262 | .317 | .421 | .739 | 9 | 34 | 52 |
| J.J. Hardy | 22.5 | 3 | 7.5 | 393 | .216 | .255 | .373 | .628 | 13 | 34 | 42 |
| Rafael Furcal | 14.0 | 2 | 7.0 | 393 | .275 | .338 | .360 | .697 | 5 | 37 | 56 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 32.5 | 4 | 8.1 | 355 | .263 | .284 | .337 | .621 | 2 | 44 | 32 |
| Erick Aybar | 40.1 | 5 | 8.0 | 335 | .267 | .305 | .383 | .688 | 2 | 44 | 31 |
The question isn't even which one of those hitters you would rather have, because Furcal and Reyes were the only ones available this offseason. The question is who is going to take the place of Rollins if you trade him away. And we haven't even mentioned the elite level defense he continues to provide.
I'm not arguing that it is a great contract. But it certainly looks better than Reyes', Ramirez's or Aybar's. Long story short, you sometimes have to overpay at premium positions. After all, there is a reason they are considered "premium."
hes just such a frustrating player to watch b/c the talent is there. he just won't use his abilities to become a spray hitter. fans can't stand him b/c he won't do what he needs to -- its about jroll, period.
he's not a bad ss but thats the perspective most people have imho— rbrogna1- He's the laziest philly. — fmMD
- Problem with the contract is the length of it. Way too long. His play is already in decline and probably will not get better 4 years from now. They bid against themselves because they waited too long. Should have signed one of the available SS as a stop gap and let the Stroll walk. I have enjoyed his play over the years but his lack of hustle and over swing pop ups have ended it for me— Ssteve115
- Rollins is the orginal "I'm not playing until June" poster boy. The Phils should know after 10 years that Jimmy doesn't start playing in earnest until late June.
Why do you think Utley and Howard are now doing it?— LJ14 - Jimmy only plays hard when he can get the credit or it means something to his numbers.— sonnybuoy01
- What's wrong with it? What happened was J Roll hit the market running wanting a 4 year deal with the 5 year option, his own option, no hometown discount... Do you remember? Then the market dried up and Rollins had only the Phillies as his suitor. Then Amaro still gave him a huge deal even though he was bidding against "NoBody" thats right. I would have said, here you go Jimmy, 1 year , $7 million, with a team option... I would have then said... as you said Jimmy, no hometown discount...— FetchDixon
- I totally agree. Rollins is a heck of talent that never 'got it'. He's been playing the game for 25 years and finds a way to aggravate me every game with his approach to at-bats. Did anyone see Blanton bust it down the line on a ground-out last night?? Why can't we get that effort out of Rollins?
- What are Rollins' numbers in the leadoff spot? He hit out of position for way too long.— Clt Philly Fan
- As NM points out, most other sources show 3/33 or 4/44 with a very reachable option. 11 per year vs. 9.5 per year makes quite a bit of difference. Anyone know where Murphy's numbers are coming from? Not saying they are wrong by any means, but very curious.— Mh225
- This guy has lost his mind. Juan Pierre does best what JStroll is supposed to be doing, HE GETS ON BASE. That's what the leadoff hitter is supposed to do. Cholly just doesn't want to upset the old guard that's why he's got Rollins/Vic batting 1-2. His defense has gone downhill couldn't even find the bag for a routine double play last night. Then he almost gets picked off trying to steal third with two outs. JStroll's contract is symptomatic of the problems with this team old overpaid vets more concerned with their bank accounts than winning.— subgen
- Fetchdixon is wrong: I distinctly remember the Brewers pursuing Rollins right to the end last off-season. I love Rollins, too, and feel the signing was just right -- fair for both sides. Yes, he has a nasty habit of hitting medium-deep fly balls. He's not a perfect leadoff man at this stage. But he's better than most, is an excellent fielder, a leader on the team, the best SS in Phillies history, we never had a chance to sign Reyes -- and Freddy Galvis hit a whopping .226 while on PEDs.— eman
- Murph, forget all these dumb questions about baseball, and answer an important one: have you been the Short Stop on Sunset in Echo Park yet this trip? How about the Tiki Ti in Silver Lake, or the Drawing Room in Los Feliz, or the Red Lion Tavern in Silver Lake?— Chris Garrity
- if building stats was the most important thing in judging a player's importance to his team, then Bobby Abreu never should have been sent away by the Phils or by the teams he joined thereafter. But anyone willing to watch his selfish, play hard sometimes, but lazily most of the time, knew that subtracting him would help the team.
Same with Jim-ME. Either bat him 7th and minimize the laziness that sets the tone almost every night, or send him away. Murph hasn't been around long enough to look beyond stats and see the value of changing the culture on a team.— advantasux - Rafael Furcal is hitting better than Jroll and makes less I would of rather had that extra 2.5 Million to try and get better else were. Still say the we should of made a big push for a 3rd baseman with more power than Polly!If I could trade Jroll for something halfway good then I would do it. Along with Utley, Blanton, Victoino and Hell Howard too if I could find a buyer we need to get younger and fast. We need younger guywho can hit for at least .270 or better not what we have when our infield is hitting .265 or less....thatisn't good.— srcdaddy1216
- In the no good deed goes unpunished department: Rollins is an historic Phillie, a centerpiece of five straight division titles, a World Series champion, former MVP, best SS in the club's history and one of the top ten players, at any position, in the franchise's long history. As Mr. Murphy just pointed out so well, he is still in the top third of all MLB shortstops. So what is the complaint? He pops up too much, doesn't get on base as much as you'd like? Well, OK. But sometimes it's ok to say the guy has been one of the all time greats around here, he's still pretty good and -- most important point of all -- who are you gonna get who's better?— 2dsacker
