Jimmy Rollins has played his last game for the Philadelphia Phillies, according to reports.
In a deal that gained traction rapidly on Wednesday, Rollins waived his no-trade clause and has been dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers according to multiple outlets, including Jim Salisbury from CSNPhilly.com. The man who was a staple for the Phillies at the shortstop position since he entered the league in 2000 will be suiting up for another team for the first time in his career come 2015. That just feels weird to type.
Rollins, the Phillies’ all-time leader in hits, will be missed. During his career, J-Roll caught a lot of heat. The fan base had a love-hate relationship with Rollins, who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. We loved when he claimed the Phillies were the “team to beat” but were then offended when he dare call the fan base “front runners”. Then, of course, there was the contingent of fans who hated Rollins first-pitch-swinging mentality and propensity to hit the ball for a lazy pop fly. Yes, Rollins’ time in Philadelphia was far from sunshine and roses. But much like Mike Schmidt, when we look back at the career we watched we will do so fondly.
Jimmy Rollins was the best shortstop the Phillies have ever known. He was a leader for the team that ended the title-less streak in this city. He was, unquestionably, one of the best defensive shortstops during his era. He will be missed.
No word yet on the players coming from Los Angeles. We’ll update as information becomes available.
