MLB Rumors: Jimmy Rollins open to trade after he breaks Phillies hit record

The Philadelphia Phillies have a complete and utter mess of a roster.

More from MLB

• Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return
• Shohei Ohtani trade rumors live tracker: Every update so far
• MLB Rumors: Yankees mistake, Cardinals trade package, Cubs choice
• Inside the Clubhouse: What I’m hearing ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline
• After frantic trade day, Kiké Hernandez grateful for second chance with Dodgers

It is a group of overpaid, big-name veterans whose best days are well behind them at this point. It appears that the problems with running that roster out there in the year 2014 were apparent to everybody but Phillies’ general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr.

The Phillies are in a unique position in that they clearly should be sellers in a marker that is otherwise saturated with buyers (they currently own a 25-35 record). Will they take advantage of that position? If they do, could the difficult-to-move Jimmy Rollins actually become available?

Buster Olney of ESPN writes that Rollins is said to be open to a trade after he breaks Mike Schmidt‘s all-time record for hits in a Phillies uniform (subscription required).

Rollins remains in the driver’s seat because he has a full no-trade clause. Olney hints that Rollins might be interested in playing for a winner once that record is under his belt, and that the Tigers could be a perfect fit given their comically obvious need at shortstop.

The 35-year-old Rollins has been inconsistent in Philadelphia this season, batting .247/.345/.411 through 57 games with eight home runs and 25 driven in. Given his ability to get on base and hit for a little pop, however, that production would still present a gigantic upgrade for the Tigers in that spot. That’s not to mention the benefit of adding another veteran with playoff experience to a locker room that already includes Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera, and a host of others.

If the Phillies get out of their own way and if Rollins waives his no-trade clause, this might be the deal that makes the most sense of them all between now and the July 31st deadline.