This news seems to come too late to make a difference, but according to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Phillies are "very willing" to move shortstop Jimmy Rollins in a trade. Rollins is heading into the last year of a three-year, $33 million contract. But, as Olney notes, 434 plate appearances (very attainable if Rollins remains healthy) would vest Rollins another season.
I think this news comes too late because the most obvious suitor heading into the offseason would have been the Saint Louis Cardinals. However, the Cardinals signed Jhonny Peralta to a four-year contract. Rollins is a superior defender to Peralta, and the Cardinals have been interested in Rollins in the past.
One potential landing spot remains: the Boston Red Sox. With Stephen Drew still a free agent, the Red Sox are without a veteran on the left side of their infield. Should the Sox wish to avoid Drew and a Scott Boras contract, Rollins could have some value. The Sox have Xander Boegarts and Will Middlebrooks as a decent fallback option at shortstop and third base, respectively, but they may wish to upgrade.
Rollins has full no-trade protection and would have to approve any deal. In the past, some reports suggested that Rollins wishes to set some Phillies records before he heads elsewhere. Rollins had several under his belt and has many more in reach.
