Jimmy Rollins Didn't Want to Be Traded to the Yankees Because of Derek Jeter

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Before Jimmy Rollins was shipped out west to drape himself in Dodger blue, there were rumblings he’d be headed on a northbound Amtrak to don some pinstripes. Those rumors were shut down when we found out that Ruben Amaro was asking the Yankees for their top prospects (which they were not willing to give) and that J-Roll™ would turn down any trade to the Yankees with his no-trade clause. “Good,” we thought. “He won’t betray us to go play for everyone’s enemy.” But Rollins was thinking “Hell no, there’s no way I’m replacing Jeter.”

And why didn’t he want to fill Jeter’s well-worn shoes? He’s too old.

“I wasn’t going to go after (Derek) Jeter,” Rollins told Jon Heyman. “If I was 26, Ok. But I’m 36. There was not enough time.”

[Editor’s note: Never has a player been more concerned with his place in team lore than Rollins.]

Enough time for what? To make his mark? To exit Jeter’s shadow? To do something with the Yankees? To get to the gift basket store? I don’t even care. I understand Rollins had to go and I’m fine with him in Dodger blue. Those navy pinstripes though? Hello no.

However, it could have been even more painful:

If there was no deal with the Dodgers, Rollins would have been in a difficult spot trying to decide between the Mets and Phillies.

“That would have been tough,” he said. “I would have given it a lot of thought.”

Well, let’s just not think about that.