General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies have finally come around to the idea that they should be sellers at the trade deadline, but don’t expect to see Jimmy Rollins leaving Philadelphia.
As a veteran player with 10-and-5 rights (10 total years of experience, including at least five with the same team) Rollins has the ability to block any trade and the shortstop told David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News that he plans to exercise that veto power:
Rollins has spent his entire 14-year career in Philadelphia and is signed for $11 million in 2014, with a 2015 option that vests for $11 million if he stays healthy and continues to play every day. All of which is why it’s hardly surprising he wants to remain on the Phillies’ sinking ship, although citing his place on the franchise’s all-time leaderboards is an interesting reasoning to give.
It’s also worth noting that Rollins is a 34-year-old shortstop with a big salary who’s hitting just .259 with five homers and a career-worst .668 OPS in 105 games, so it’s not as if the Phillies would get a huge return for him anyway.