Rollins Already Causing Trouble For Phils




Rollins is Reaching Out To Hamels.

Jimmy Rollins appeared on MLB Network Monday with a new look.  Instead of the wistful, 'I love Philly fans' mantra in which he was previously garbed, he sounded upbeat and immersed in Dodger Fever.

He was also reaching out for 'a little help from his friends.'  If you're a Phillies fan, he made it personal.

For business reasons the Phillies traded their all-time hits leader, Jimmy Rollins, to the L.A. Dodgers on December 19th.

Then, they traded away team HR leader Marlon Byrd to the Reds last week.

2014 was arguably Cole Hamels best year ever: 198 strikeouts and a career-best 2.46 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP.  However, Hamels' disgruntled demeanor in the face of the Phils' recent acknowledgement that they cannot win again before at least 2017 has led to widespread trade rumors.

The Boston Red Sox were the front-runners in the Hamels sweepstakes until this week, when all negotiations ended between them and the Phils.  

Ruben Amaro had his sights set on top Red Sox prospect and projected leadoff hitter Mookie Betts.

Boston general manager Ben Cherington, however, has put his foot down on the possibility of parting with the promising 22-year-old from Tennessee, who was Boston’s fifth-round draft pick in 2011.

Nor will the Red Sox GM part with catching prospect Blake Swihart, even though the emergence of Christian Vasquez, another Boston catching prospect, would appear to make Swihart an expendable trade chip, and one whom Amaro might have been willing to take in a deal for Hamels.

Now, Jimmy Rollins, who says he "wants to be a leader" on the Dodgers is beckoning to his pal Hamels, the Phils coveted former NLCS and World Series MVP to join him.

Like Darth Vader reaching out to the mutilated, desperate, helpless Luke Skywalker in "The Empire Strikes Back," Rollins recognizes Hamels' despair on a sinking ship that has finally publicly and actively acknowledged its need for a slow rebuild.  Monday, Rollins took the next step by extending his hand to his friend and former teammate in the most public way possible:

Is Rollins playing dirty?

"I talked to Cole right before I got traded," Rollins said Monday. "And he was excited for me. He did talk about how lovely it would be if we both ended up in L.A. That would be one heck of a move right there, so...

"I know he's a big piece, but if they want to rebuild and get as much as they can from any team, I know it's hard to let go of their one or two prospects that the Phillies are asking for... I definitely feel he wants to be somewhere that he could win."

Hamels does feel kinship with Rollins.  There's no doubt the two California natives are talking and that each man would like to win again.  The bugger question is: Are the Dodgers willing to part with their top prospects Joc Pederson, Julio Urias, and Corey Seager?  The Phillies likely will need a combination of two in order to get the trade done.  Thusfar, the Dodgers have been unwilling to part with any of the three.

However, that could change any day, especially if the Dodgers are bluffing and waiting to see if the seemingly desperate Phillies will cave and pull the trigger without any of said players.  After all, the Dodgers have been clear that: 1) they want to win 2) and win now 3) and are willing to pay any price of any kind at any time (they recently snapped the Yankees 15-year unbroken string with the highest team salary in baseball).  [FYI 2014 team salaries: Dodgers: $238,841,005.  Yankeess: $209,416,323.  Phillies: $175,996,256.]

Is Hollywood headed back to Cali?

However, Amaro and company have stood tall behind their statements that they are in no rush to make a deal.  There is much logic to this approach.  During the season, any successful teams hoping to make a playoff run with some top notch prospects would instantly become Hamels suitors.  That would widen the competition and increase the pot for the Phils, especially considering the fact that any team interested at that point would have to feel confident about a deep playoff run and therefore be more likely to spend emotionally.  

So, waiting until the price is right is lucrative for the Phils.  The Dodgers may be feeling that pull.  In fact, it's quite possible that Rollins' very public statements were not made independently of Dodgers management.  This may have been a plotted push for both sides to return to the bargaining table and work this thing out with the Dodgers now ready to talk top prospects.  Rollins the initiator, Rollins the spark.  Those of us who know him can only smile, even if behind gritted teeth.  He served the Phils well in that role through several winning seasons, division titles, league championships and a World Series Title in an era not long ago-- gone now, but not yet forgotten.