2007 Bowman Heritage #155 Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins officially returned to the Phillies yesterday, finalizing his new three-year, $33 million contract with a vesting option for a fourth year. Rollins, who has been with the organization since he was drafted in 1996, will hopefully stay with the organization through the 2015 season.

I'm a big Jimmy Rollins fan, and I'm glad this deal got done. He's been the face of the franchise and the team's leader from the dark days of the early 2000's through the golden age of today. I couldn't imagine him wearing a Cardinals or a Brewers or a Red Sox uniform, and I'm selfishly happy that none of those teams were willing to give Rollins the five years he initially sought. Jimmy belongs in Philadelphia and I look forward to adding his 2012, 2013, 2014 and perhaps 2015 baseball cards to my collection.

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency (Signed with the Oakland A's organization)

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent

Scott Mathieson (06, 10-11) 11/29/11 - Released

Ben Francisco (09-11) 12/12/11 - Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Frank Gailey

Coming Back

Pete Orr (11) 11/3/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brian Schneider (10- ) 11/17/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract

Jimmy Rollins (00- ) 12/19/11 - Re-signed by the Phillies to a three-year contract with a vesting fourth year

New Additions

Jim Thome (03-05) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians

Jonathan Papelbon 11/14/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox

Ty Wigginton 11/20/11 - Acquired with cash from the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash

Laynce Nix 12/8/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Washington Nationals

Dontrelle Willis 12/15/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cincinnati Reds