Spring training is so close you can almost smell the freshly mowed grass at Bright House Field. As the days count down to Clearwater, we take a daily look at something related to the Phillies. Some days, it will be newsy, some days it will be lighter in nature, some days it will be a thought or quick opinionanything to get us in the mood for a little warmth, a little sunshine and those three sweet words: pitchers and catchers.
Jimmy Rollins signed a three-year, 33 million contract with the Phillies in December. If he stays healthy, it will easily become a four-year, 44 million deal.
Baseball sources have provided the details of the fourth-year option in Rollins deal and, as expected, it is tied to health.
Heres how the 2015 option shapes up:
The Phillies hold a club option for 2015 at 8 million. If the club does not exercise its option, it becomes a 5 million player option.
The option year becomes guaranteed at 11 million if Rollins gets 600 plate appearances in 2014. It could also become guaranteed if Rollins gets a total of 1,100 plate appearances in 2013-14 and is not on the disabled list at the end of the 2014 season. If Rollins gets those 1,100 plate appearances in 2013-14 and ends 2014 on the DL, the option could still become guaranteed if a mutually agreed upon doctor deems him available for the opening day 2015 roster. So, clearly, the Phillies are protecting themselves from injury as Rollins, who turned 33 in November, gets older.
If Rollins stays healthy, he should have little trouble guaranteeing his 2015 option at 11 million. He has reached at least 625 plate appearances in 10 of 11 seasons as the Phillies regular shortstop and topped 700 seven times. The only time he did not reach 625 plate appearances was 2010 when a calf injury limited him to 88 games.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.