MLB: Ten Worst Position Players in Baseball
By Gavin Lee
4. Jimmy Rollins
2016: 84 PA, .234/.286/.351, 75 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR
It’s hard to see a borderline hall of famer on this list, and I hesitate to put him here just out of respect. Jimmy Rollins has been one of the best shortstops I’ve watched for a whole career; he’s closing in on 2500 hits, with 4 gold gloves and an MVP. All that success is in the past though, and it’s time for Rollins to call it quits.
After 15 years with the Phillies, they decided to move on and traded Rollins to the Dodgers before last season. The Phillies must have known something the Dodgers didn’t, as he put up a terrible season both at shortstop and at the plate. The glove that had been so reliable in Philadelphia put up the worst season of his career, and he looked lost with a bat in his hands. Even Rollins’ legs, usually a huge asset for him, betrayed the then 36-year old. He put up negative base running numbers and was only successful on 12/20 stolen base attempts.
This year is much of the same after signing a minor league deal with the White Sox, then making the team out of camp. Rollins currently has a -25.9 UZR/150 at shortstop, good for 6th worst at the position. His offense has declined even further, and he’s even in stolen base attempts going 2/4. Rollins was once an MVP and with that comes some potential to break out again for at least a short period of time. But with the White Sox off to such a good start, it’s time to sit Rollins down if he keeps playing like one of the worst players in baseball. He just doesn’t have it anymore.
Next: Number 3