Phillies Stay or Go: Jimmy Rollins

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The Phillies' first losing season since 2002 is sure to bring wholesale changes in the offseason. But who should stay and who should go? Over the next two weeks, we're asking that very question and putting players under the microscope.

Tuesday, we examined Ethan Martin (see story), and today we take a look at the Phils' veteran shortstop.

Jimmy Rollins
Position: Shortstop
Status: One year remaining on a three-year, $33 million deal with a vesting option worth $11 million for 2015.

Signature game of 2013
The old harbinger for Rollins and the Phillies was always runs. When Rollins scored, the Phillies usually won. That held up (for the most part) in 2013 when the Phillies went 8-3 in games in which Rollins scored two runs and 35-19 in games that he scored at least one run.

Memorably, Rollins belted career homer No. 199 on Sept. 11 at the Bank against the Padres to tie the game up in sixth. One more homer and Rollins becomes the first shortstop in major-league history to hit 200 homers, steal 400 bases and collect 2,000 hits. The only players to accomplish this feat are Paul Molitor, Johnny Damon, Craig Biggio, Marquis Grissom, Roberto Alomar, Barry Bonds, Joe Morgan and Rickey Henderson.

In 2013, Rollins also set the franchise record for doubles and will set club records in 2014 with 263 more at-bats and 60 more hits.

Season as a whole
Though Rollins appeared in 160 games for just the second time of his career in 2013, Rollins had a career-low year in homers, RBIs, triples, slugging and OPS to go with a .318 on-base percentage.

The only difference between 2013 and 2012 was Rollins’ home run and RBI numbers. With his 35th birthday approaching, Rollins’ bat seems to have slowed a bit. However, Rollins finished the season strong, batting .292 with five stolen bases in September.

Can Rollins carry his strong September into 2014? The Phillies sure hope so. In the meantime, look for Rollins to show up for spring training lighter and in better shape. As he gets older, improved fitness will make all the difference.

Stay or go
Rollins’ option vests for 2015 with 434 more plate appearances in 2014. Considering that Rollins averages 680-plus plate appearances in his 13 full big-league seasons, the Phillies will have the veteran shortstop for two more seasons. Owed as much as $22 million over those two years, Rollins might be difficult to trade. Throw in the fact that as a 10-and-5 man Rollins can veto any deal he wants, trading him is nearly impossible.

So whether you like it or not, Rollins very likely will be the Phillies’ shortstop for the next two seasons.

What they're saying ...
"There are a bunch of new pieces. We haven't had that around here for a long time. I'm excited about them. They're good, young players -- big-eyed. A lot of hopes and wishes, it's our part to make sure they come true. It's fun seeing the energy and excitement every single day. The world is still theirs and it's at hand. They can change it. I was that guy. Now it's up to me, Chase [Utley] and Ryan [Howard] to make sure they do change it."

-- Jimmy Rollins, September, 2013

“I've noticed a lot more walks. I've noticed that he is using the whole diamond and getting hits up the middle and to the opposite field. And I see his on-base percentage and his batting average going up. I see a different mind-set as far as hitting line drives and using the whole field, and he is having success with that.

“He's a very good base runner and he's very good at going first to third and he's good at scoring runs when he gets on base. He has good base-running skills and it's fun to watch."

-- Ryne Sandberg on Rollins’ play in September of 2013

“I mentioned to him about hitting at the top of the order and scoring runs and applying his base-running skills and how that's one of his biggest assets for the team going forward. With that has come line drives and doubles. It's not about not swinging for power because he still has the natural doubles power and when he did hit a home run [on Sept. 11] I thought that was the result of having good at-bats leading up to that. That's the full package -- hit for average, get on base, have a chance to score runs and I think doubles are power numbers. He's had a lot of doubles the last month. That's good, too.”

-- Sandberg, September, 2013

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