Aside from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Yankees, New York Mets and San Diego Padres were interested in acquiring Jimmy Rollins earlier this offseason. The veteran shortstop had a pretty good reason as to why he didn't prefer the Yankees.
Rollins spoke with Jon Heyman of CBS Sports on Wednesday about the few months that followed his final season with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he has spent his entire 15-year career. Because he had a full no-trade clause in his contract, Rollins had the final say in regards to where he would be dealt.
"I wasn't going to go after (Derek) Jeter," Rollins told Heyman as his reason for avoiding the Bronx. "If I was 26, Ok. But I'm 36. There was not enough time."
Jeter retired in his age-40 season after 20 years with the Yankees, so it was clear Rollins respected Jeter's legacy and couldn't merely fill his shoes as another aging veteran entering the final year of his current contract. That was a task to be bestowed upon a young, up-and-coming shortstop. That happened to be Didi Gregorius, who general manager Brian Cashman acquired in December.
Although Rollins said he didn't have a second choice beyond Los Angeles, the other New York team may have been in the running if the Dodgers weren't interested in making a deal.
"I've played against the Mets, and seen them go through what the Phillies are going through," he added. "The arms they have are impressive, a healthy Matt Harvey (Jacob) deGrom, (Zack) Wheeler. That's how you rebuild - run prevention. Their future seems bright."
The "what could have been" in terms of Rollins' future is surely an intriguing thought. There was a chance he'd be in spring training right now wearing Yankee pinstripes, or prepping to face the Phillies 19 times in 2014 as a member of the Mets.
Instead, Rollins will take his extensive experience to the West Coast and help the Dodgers and their new-look team contend for an NL West title.
