Things That Make You Go Hmmmm

Written by Benny B. | 18 December 2009

Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse twittered that the Phillies have exercised SS Jimmy Rollins 2011 Option.

Yes, you read correctly...2011 Option.

Ok, I understand that Jimmy is a key player for the Phillies on and off the field.  But this move makes absolutely no sense.  Someone please explain to me what good they accomplished by doing this?

Look, Jimmy Rollins is probably going to be a Phillie for a long time, and Amaro may very well wind up executing his option at the end of this season anyway.  But what's the rush?  All  he is doing is limiting his teams financial flexibility; and for a team that is rapidly becoming a "Big Market" team, managing money becomes more important, not less.

What if he sustains a career threatening injury or has an entire year like the first half of 2009?  What if they want to restructure his deal and sign him to a heavily backloaded contract extension to free up money to sign additional players they need?  Exercising Rollin's 2011 option now provides no positives, and only opens up the door a little wider for potential negatives.

I just don't get it.