It has been very quiet on the Jimmy Rollins front this off-season.
That could change in the coming days as the baseball world gets set for the winter meetings, which begin Monday in Dallas.
Dan Lozano, Rollins agent, said he will meet face to face with Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. in Dallas.
Ive had numerous conversations with Ruben this off-season, Lozano said by telephone. We have a meeting set up for Dallas and well see what transpires from that.
Having signed closer Jonathan Papelbon and tinkered with their bench with the additions of Jim Thome and Ty Wigginton, the Phillies attention is focused on shortstop.
Rollins, a first-time free agent, has held down the position for 11 seasons and would like to return. Amaro has said he would like to have Rollins back. Rollins, who recently turned 33, has said he is looking for a five-year deal. Though Amaro will not discuss negotiations, he appears to have serious misgivings about giving Rollins a deal of that length. A three-year deal appears to be a lot more to the Phils liking. Can the two sides find common ground? Stay tuned. Its December. The Phils want to know who their shortstop will be in 2012. The answer could come soon.
Other than the Phillies, it has been difficult to pin down specific interest in Rollins. The Giants and Braves are both in the shortstop market, and while its likely they have discussed Rollins, its unclear if they have interest in him. The Braves dont seem inclined to sign a shortstop to a long-term deal as they have some young infielders on the way. The Giants have recently been connected to free-agent Alex Gonzalez, a less expensive alternative. The Tigers are another team that could make a play for a shortstop, but there have been no indications that they are in on Rollins.
MLB
Lozano, who also represents mega free agent Albert Pujols, was very tight-lipped on talks involving Rollins, but he did say interest in Rollins was healthy and that he planned to speak about him with several clubs other than the Phillies in Dallas.
Some of the interest in Rollins is tied to the rest of the free-agent market. Jose Reyes is still the prize of the shortstop market and Pujols presence on the open market casts a long shadow. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that the Cardinals have interest in Rollins and it could intensify if Pujols does not re-sign with St. Louis. Milwaukee is another club that could pursue Rollins. Some baseball executives have speculated that Rollins could be a fit in Washington if the Nats were to move Ian Desmond to centerfield, but that doesnt appear to be the Nats desire.
Rollins finished a six-year, 46.5 million contract with the Phils in 2011.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com