By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor
Former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins will join the MLB on TBS for the remainder of their regular season coverage and into the postseason, Turner Sports announced Friday:
2007 NL MVP & 2008 WS Champ @JimmyRollins11 joins #MLBonTBS studio team; will debut this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET – https://t.co/CuZhsAucfP
— TurnerSportsPR (@TurnerSportsPR) September 23, 2016
In July, the recently released Rollins appeared on a FS1's "MLB Whip Around" on a few occasions, perhaps indicating that he planned to transition into being an analyst. During the 2013 playoffs, which the Phillies were eliminated from, Rollins also appeared on FOX's playoff coverage.
Rollins, 37, made the Chicago White Sox out of Spring Training after signing a minor league contract prior to the spring season. He was released in mid-June after slashing .221/.295/.329 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 166 at-bats. Though Rollins didn't formally announce his retirement after his release, he doesn't seem to have pursued another job playing, because he probably could have gotten one as a bench piece for a contender if he did.
If this is indicative of Rollins' career drawing to a close, he accomplished just about everything one could hope to in a career. Rollins won four gold gloves, appeared in the All-Star game three times, won the 2007 National League MVP, became the Phillies all-time hits leader and led the club to a 2008 World Series title. Though he's not a lock for the baseball Hall of Fame, he's about as sure a bet for the Phillies Wall of Fame as you can find.