Jimmy Rollins, placed on the disabled list Monday with a strained right groin muscle, hopes to be ready to return to the lineup by Sept. 6.
But Rollins knows that when it comes to his legs, a little extra healing time is often needed.
Theres no need to rush, Rollins said Monday. Your body will tell you when you are ready to go. You better listen to it.
Rollins missed significant time with a pair of leg injuries in 2010. He suffered a calf strain in April, missed a month, then needed to go back on the DL for another month with a recurrence of the injury. In September, he missed 14 games with a hamstring injury.
Rollins legs are his gamein the field and on the base paths. Phillies officials usually exercise caution when it comes to his legs and this injury will be no exception. The team wants to make sure he is healthy for October. One team official predicted that Rollins would be out of the lineup until mid-September because of this groin strain. A mid-September return would give him enough time to get ready for October.
Wilson Valdez and Michael Martinez will see time at shortstop while Rollins is out.
Rollins assignment to the disabled list created an opening for Placido Polanco to return from the DL after receiving treatment for a sports hernia. The Phillies believe that Polanco and the teams medical staff can manage the injury for the remainder of the season, but only time will tell if they can successfully do that.
MLB
The teams spate of groinabdominal injuries continued Monday as leftfielder Raul Ibanez was scratched from the lineup with soreness in his left groin. Ibanez condition is worth watching because he had surgery for a sports hernia after the 2009 season. John Mayberry Jr. started in left field in place of Ibanez.
Rollins' contract situation
Rollins, of course, can be a free agent at the end of the season. He said his representatives and the Phillies spoke some about an extension during spring training, but decided to table the discussions until the off-season.
The 32-year-old shortstop would like to stay with the Phillies. The club has spent the season monitoring Rollins play and considering its future course. It is believed the team will look to re-sign him, though cost and length of contract could be an issue. Rollins is finishing up a contract that will end up paying him more than 48 million over six years.
Well be talking, Rollins said. Theres no question about it. Its not like theyre just going to let me walk away scot-free.
Rollins played his first game for the Phils in 2000, under manager Terry Francona, at Veterans Stadium. He was asked if it would be difficult to leave the Phillies.
This is the only place I know, he said. I dont know what it would be like. Ive never really thought about leaving. Thought about what itd be like playing with other teams when we werent winning. But I dont think about that stuff anymore, or even thought about leaving and what itd be like. If Im gone then you could ask me that question, and Ill tell you.
Thome time?
The Minnesota Twins have reportedly placed veteran slugger Jim Thome on trade waivers.
The Phillies have had longstanding interest in bringing back Thome, who played for the club from 2003-2005. Thome would fill a need for left-handed power bat off the bench.
While a Thome reunion certainly sounds romantic, it will be difficult to pull off. Thome would have to get past 28 teams on waivers before the Phillies could put in a claim. It is likely some contending team would have an interest in adding Thomes bat and put in a claim. Thome does have a no-trade clause, so he could refuse to go to the team that claimed him.
The best chance of Thome landing back in Philadelphia would be his being placed on release waivers. If Thome rejects a release waiver claim or goes unclaimed altogether, he could become a free agent and strike a deal wherever he chooses. Sources say Thome would love a chance to return to Philadelphia and make a bid to win the World Series ring that has long eluded him.
However, it remains to be seen if the Twins would be willing to release Thome. He is a player with value and teams dont often give away players for nothing. Releasing him would essentially being doing that.
Phillies officials are also monitoring the waiver wire for potential bullpen help, but again, they have the 15th claim in the National League for an NL player and they have the 29th claim for an American League player, so making a waiver trade will be difficult. Also, the team still has payroll concerns as it pushes the 178 million luxury-tax threshold.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.