The Giants reportedly agreed to terms with veteran SS Jimmy Rollins on a minor league contract with a guarantee of $1 M if he makes the 25 man roster. Rollins was once one of the top SS's in the game spending most of his career with the Phillies. He is now 38 yo and coming off a rough season in which he slashed .221/.295/.329 with 2 HR and 5 SB in 166 PA's for the White Sox who released him 41 games into the season. He put up similar numbers in 2015, so this is likely the new norm for him.
I am not sure how I feel about this signing. The Giants have a mixed record of success trying to squeeze a late resurgence out of a veteran player at the end of their career. My problem is that even the most optimistic scenario does not have him as a significant upgrade on Kelby Tomlinson or Ehire Adrianza. At least 1 of those guys will be left out if Rollins makes the team out of spring training. The Giants history would suggest there is better than even odds of just that happening.
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I saw that yesterday. Unless it's to get Tomlinson a lot of playing time in AAA, I just really don't get the signing. I keep thinking 'what does he bring?' He's not hitting very well. His defense at SS has fallen off with 5 of the past 6 years having a negative DRS. He's not a pinch-running threat like he was in the past.
ReplyDeleteSo except for putting Tomlinson down in AAA to work on his skills, I just don't see what he could bring to the team as there is plenty of veteran leadership on the team as well as perfectly good bench players in Tomlinson and Adrianza.
Good place to save a million $$ plus tax!
ReplyDeleteRisk free signing. I don't think the Giants envision Jimmy making the team out of ST unless he's hitting .360 and slugging .500. A resurgence is always possible, which is why you take a flyer on a prior perennial all star.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think the Giants really like what they've seen from Tomlinson & have no particular loyalty to Rollins. I see him as a AAA depth move. If he's hitting .300 in the minors, there are far worse players the team could bring up in a moment of injury need - and he's a great clubhouse presence, dude is definitely a hard-nosed player! Plus, dudes like Chris Shaw and Arroyo could use to have a man like Jimmy on the squad to let them know his work ethic and path to success.
Love the signing, hoping he takes the assignment to Sacramento.
Rollins splits are somewhat better against LHP, but Tomlinson and Adrianza (S) bat right so that's not for matchups.
ReplyDeleteCould this impact Gillaspie?
Maybe it's courtesy invite but don't think Giants don't have contracts through MVP Sports Group.
San Francisco Giants preliminary prospect grade breakdown by John Sickels came out today:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/12/20/14024802/san-francisco-giants-preliminary-prospect-grade-breakdown
I particularly enjoyed the bit about Duggar.
DeleteI'm feeling that this is a "courtesy" signing. Rollins is a Bay Area guy, and this will allow him to retire in the Bay Area. Unless he has a sudden resurgance, which I doubt will happen.
ReplyDeleteA hilarious line from the Phillies site on SBNation:
ReplyDelete"The Phillies’ all-time hits leader isn’t going to beat out Brandon Crawford at shortstop, but it is possible he could swipe the job from Joe Panik, who struggled in 2016, batting .239/.315/.379 with 10 HRs in 526 PAs and an fWAR of 2.1. "
Please, Rollins isn't going to be beating out Panik for anything.
Looking ahead after this championship year, Nunez gives Arroyo another year, and Pence et al give Slater, Duggar, Reynolds, and Quinn a couple years, but it could be all 8 regulars and reserve IFers, OFer, and C are from the system:
ReplyDeletePosey, Belt, Panik, Crawford, Arroyo, Reynolds/Quinn, Duggar, and Slater plus Big Mac.
Don't know if that's a good team, probably comes down to Bumgarner, Beede, Blach, Suarez, and ???
Just fill out that rotation with Tim Lincecum and call it a day.
Delete;)