Giants Sign Rollins to Minor-League Deal

Jimmy Rollins, after a storied career in the City of Brotherly Love followed by brief stints in Los Angeles and the Southside of Chicago, is finally coming home to the Bay Area.

An Oakland native and alum of Encinal High in Alameda, the 38-year-old Rollins will have a chance to play just across the water from his home after signing a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants which includes an invitation to spring training.

San Francisco offered Rollins a similar minor-league contract last winter, but he declined the offer, instead choosing to sign a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox because of the team’s need for a starting shortstop.

Before the Sox released him in mid-June in favor of rookie Tim Anderson, Rollins hit a mere .221 with an OBP of .295 and wRC+ of 69. The last time Rollins was a full-time shortstop for a full year was in 2015 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rollins will compete with Ehire Adrianza and Kelby Tomlinson for one of the final spots on Bruce Bochy’s bench. Tomlinson has been better at the plate of the two, batting .299 over 313 plate appearances in his major league career compared to Adrianza’s .220 over 331 career plate appearances.

While Rollins no longer possess the double digit home run of his prime, he can bat from both sides of the plate, draw walks at a decent clip, and occasionally swipe a base or go yard. The veteran has been well-documented as a positive clubhouse presence as well, a role which perfectly suits San Francisco’s culture.

Rollins spent the majority of his 17-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he appeared in three All-Star Games, won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger. J-Roll took home NL MVP in 2007, posting a slash line of .296/.344/.531 and totaling 212 hits, 30 home runs, 41 steals while leading the league with 20 triples and 139 runs. The next season, Rollins helped lead the Phillies to its first championship since 1980.

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