Apr 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins (11) turns a double play while avoiding Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb (19) in the seventh inning at Chase Field. Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
General manager Rick Hahn and the Chicago White Sox are giving former National League MVP Jimmy Rollins a chance to prove he has something left at age 37.
Rollins, a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner, signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox on Monday after batting .224 (116 of 517) with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015. He had 24 doubles, 13 home runs, 41 RBIs, 71 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. He ranked fifth among NL shortstops with a .983 fielding percentage, committing nine errors in 526 chances.
The White Sox did not re-sign free agent shortstop Alexei Ramirez (San Diego Padres) and remade the infield with a pair of trades, netting All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier from the Cincinnati Reds and acquiring Brett Lawrie from the Oakland Athletics to play second base.
“We envision Jimmy contributing both on and off the field,” said Hahn of the 2007 NL MVP. “He provides us with another quality infield option with the potential to play a variety of roles, as well as another significant positive presence inside our clubhouse.”
Rollins is a career .265 (2,422-9,145) hitter with 503 doubles, 229 home runs, 928 RBI, 1,396 runs scored and 465 stolen bases in 2,234 games played over 16 major-league seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (2000-14) and the Dodgers (2015).
Rollins ranks among the active leaders in triples (third, 114), runs scored (fourth), stolen bases (fourth), doubles (T-fifth), hits (sixth), games played (7th) and walks (9th, 797) and also ranks second among active shortstops with a .983 career fielding percentage.
