Arguments For And Against Trading Jimmy Rollins Or DeSean Jackson
By Andrew Porter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The rumors have been swirling over the last several weeks regarding potential trades of Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
Though some have tried to shoot down the Jackson rumors, and Rollins has to approve any trade, the rumors seem to be picking up steam.
Here are some arguments for and against trading either of them:
For Trading Jimmy Rollins:
Rollins is past his prime. He's always been known for not running out every ground ball, but now not only is he not hustling, he's also not producing. After that 2008 unforgettable season that ended in a parade down Broad Street, Rollins hasn't hit better than .268, and hit .250 or less three out of those five seasons. He has over 90 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons, a number he hadn't reached since 2003.
Clearly Rollins and Sandberg are at odd,s and their philosophies clash. While the Phillies are technically in "win now" mode, making, gasp, one final push at a playoff run with this core of players, the reality is it ain't gonna happen. Let's be real. Too many things need to go right and it's time the Phillies start rebuilding, even if it's one piece at a time.
With the 24-year old, promising Freddy Galvis waiting in the wings, the Phillies might not even be giving up much production offensively, and even less defensively, if they traded Rollins and went with Galvis full-time.
Oh and by the way, if Rollins gets to 434 at-bats this season, his $11 million option for next season automatically vests.
Against Trading Jimmy Rollins:
Freddy Galvis can't hit a lick and Rollins is a former MVP and World Series Champion. Even at 35 years old, Rollins is better than most of the other shortstops around Major League Baseball.
Rollins has been one of the most reliable Phillies of all-time, is the best shortstop in franchise history, and arguably a future Hall of Famer. If the Phillies actually think they have a shot at competing for a World Series this season, the only hope is that J-Roll gets back to his old self at the plate---hitting for average, power, and stealing bases. Trading Rollins is contradicting everything Ruben Amaro Jr. and the Phillies have said and done this off-season. It's giving up on the season before it even begins.
For Trading DeSean Jackson:
Jackson is a problem. He's the prototypical "diva" receiver that grinds the gears of management, by doing things like discussing his contract immediately following a playoff loss and pouting on the field when he doesn't get the ball, never mind the non-football related shenanigans.
The wide receiver position is regarded as the deepest in the draft this year. After the re-signing of Nate Allen, the Eagles have five safeties under contract, so drafting a receiver at #22 could be their best route. Also, trading Jackson could get you some extra late round picks, which would help sure up the pass rush and/or the secondary, not to mention a rookie wide receiver would be considerably cheaper than Jackson.
Jackson's cap hit is north of $10 million over the next three seasons. Ideally, the Eagles could draft a bigger, possibly more talented, receiver to groom, while saving a ton of cap space to be used on other positions and extending contracts going forward.
Against Trading DeSean Jackson:
How could you trade DeSean Jackson coming off the best season of his career (82 catches/1,332 rec yards/9 touchdowns)? The Eagles are a young, upcoming, talented team poised to make a Super Bowl run and Jackson is one of their most explosive, threatening offensive weapons.
Without Jackson you have the one-year wonder Riley Cooper, Jeremy Maclin coming off his second ACL injury, and presumably an unproven rookie to fill the void of Jackson at the receiver position.
General Managing 101: Never replace a proven with an unproven.
The Audio Roadshow Question for the "WIP Morning Show" today asked, "Who would you rather see traded?" The majority of fans said Jimmy Rollins (results here).