Phillies exercise option on Rollins

The Phillies exercised their club option on shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ contract for the 2011 season, Senior Vice President and General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today.

Rollins, 31, who signed a five-year, $40 million contract extension on June 13, 2005, is set to make $7.5 million for the 2010 season and with the option picked up by the Phillies will make $8.5 million for the 2011 season.

“Jimmy has always been an integral part of our club, not only on the field, but in the clubhouse as well,” said Amaro. “He has been a big part of the team’s success over the past three years and there is no doubt that we want him to be a part of that in the future.”

In 155 games for the Phillies last season, Rollins hit .250 with 22 home runs and 77 RBI. With a team-leading 31 stolen bases, he recorded his sixth straight season (2004-09) with 30 or more steals. Defensively, Rollins led all major league shortstops in fielding percentage (.990) and committed a career-low six errors en route to winning his third straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

A three-time All-Star, Rollins was originally selected by the Phillies in the second round of the June 1996 draft. Entering his 11th season with the club, he is currently the longest tenured Phillie on the team and in franchise history ranks third all-time in doubles (350), fourth in stolen bases (326), fifth in runs scored (945), triples (95) and extra-base hits (591) and eighth in hits (1,629). For his career, the 2007 National League MVP is hitting .274 with 146 home runs and 621 RBI in 1,406 games.

Source: Phillies/Major League Baseball