Philadelphia Phillies Should Trade Jimmy Rollins to New York Yankees
By Mike Gibson
@papreps
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
By the time Jimmy Rollins found out he strained his left hamstring a couple of weeks ago, he already had circled a date for his return to the lineup for the Philadelphia Phillies: Friday, Sept. 19. He missed it by one day because Rollins was not in the lineup on Friday night when his team lost to the Oakland Athletics, 3-1, but manager Ryne Sandberg said he will play on Saturday.
Rollins was born and raised in Oakland, CA, and the Phillies and Rollins circling that date was curious to say the least. Either Rollins is the greatest doctor in the history of the world or he plays when he wants to play.
Phils’ fans have known the answer to that question for a long time and that’s why this act that has worn thin in Philadelphia deserves to open in another town. Rollins plays when he wants to, runs to first base when he wants — mostly jogging the other times — and that’s why his popularity has waned in blue-collar Philadelphia. As unpopular as Rollins is in Philadelphia, though, he is held in high esteem elsewhere and there are franchises in need of a short-term solution at shortstop.
One of those franchises is the New York Yankees and there is no prospect in that organization ready to fill the shoes of the recently retired Derek Jeter. The Yankees can sell Rollins to their fan base until they are able to develop a shortstop. For their part, the Phillies would like to get something in return for Rollins, even if it’s just one prospect.
Rollins strained the left hamstring on Sept. 6 in the fourth inning of a 6-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates and immediately set the timetable for his return without talking to the doctors. Returning home on Friday night and playing in front of his friends and family was just what the doctor ordered for Rollins.
For both Phillies and Yankees fans, though, it could be the perfect prescription.
Mike Gibson is a Phillies writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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