At least one member of the Philadelphia Phillies is campaigning hard for Jimmy Rollins to come back. We haven’t heard much from the members of the 2011 team. However, newly signed pitcher Dontrelle Willis has made a pitch to bring Rollins back. Willis didn’t waste any time in talking about the free agent shortstop after he was introduced as an official member of the team. I hope his campaigning works. As a Phillies fan, I know the team needs Rollins back.

Willis might have a right to discuss wanting Rollins back with the team. The two have been longtime friends. They come from the same area and both have kept in regular contact since they have played in Major League Baseball. Willis joined the Phillies and is prepared to make the transition to the bullpen. His one year deal seemingly allows him to play on the same team as his friend. Of course, that will only happen if Rollins re-signs with the Phillies.

Willis doesn’t have any inside information. He did say he talked to Rollins after signing with the Phillies and that Rollins was excited about the move. However, it’s not like Willis said that Rollins is definitely returning or that he had some inkling into his real desires. That’s not the way things work. Just because his friend signed with the Phillies doesn’t mean Rollins will. If Rollins signs with the Phillies it will be because it was the best contract and the best situation for him. That said it doesn’t hurt to have Willis on board. A little extra recruiting will only help the situation.

I liked the Willis signing when the Phillies first did it. Now I like it even more. I like how excited he sounds about joining the team and I like how realistic he is about the downward path his career took. Willis seems like a guy that genuinely loves the game of baseball and will always be grateful for playing it. There aren’t enough players out there like that. In fact, he reminds me a lot of Rollins. Rollins was always the vocal leader on this team during this successful run. I hope Rollins returns soon. I would love to see how both of these guys act with each other, the team, and the fans.

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The Chicago Cubs have selected former Philadelphia Phillies farmhand Lendy Castillo in Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 Draft today.

Castillo, a right-handed pitcher, was 4-2 with a 2.54 ERA at Single-A Lakewood last season. Per the rules of the draft, he must remain on the Cubs’ 25-man roster the entirety of next season or be offered back to the Phillies.

Philadelphia did not make a Rule 5 selection for the first time since 2005.

Shane Victorino, David Herndon and Michael Martinez are all players the Phillies acquired through the Rule 5 Draft.

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired
Ty Wigginton from the Colorado Rockies, adding a versatile
player to a team that will start the Major League Baseball
season with at least one All-Star on the disabled list.

The Rockies will receive either a player to be named or
cash for the 34-year-old infielder, the Phillies said on their
website. Philadelphia, which has won the National League East
division title for last five seasons, will pay him half of the
$4 million he is owed in the final year of his contract,
according to MLB.com, which didn’t list the source of its
information.

Wigginton played at least 20 games each at first base,
third base and left field last season. The Phillies’ starting
first baseman, three-time All-Star, Ryan Howard, will begin the
2012 campaign on the disabled list recovering from a torn
Achilles tendon, the team said on its website. Third baseman
Placido Polanco may also be sidelined as he recovers from
sports-hernia surgery.

Wigginton has hit .265 with 158 home runs and 548 runs
batted in during a 10-year career that began in 2002 with the
New York Mets. Last year, his only season in Colorado, he hit a
career-low .242 with 15 home runs and 52 runs scored.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Eben Novy-Williams in New York at
enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has traded infielder Ty Wigginton to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.

Wigginton, played in 130 games for Colorado in 2011 after being signed as a Major League free agent on December 16, 2010. Wigginton batted .242 (97-for-401) with 21 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs and 47 RBI while seeing time in the field at first base (36 games), third base (68 games), left field (21 games) and right field (6 games).

Colorado became the sixth Major League franchise that Wigginton has played for in his 10-year Big League career, joining the New York Mets (2002-04), Pittsburgh (2004-05), Tampa Bay (2006-07), Houston (2007-08) and Baltimore (2009-10). In his 10-year career, Wigginton is a .265 (1087-for-4107) hitter with 232 doubles, 14 triples, 158 home runs and 548 RBI in 1,190 games.

The San Diego native connected on his 1,000th career Major League hit when he blasted a 3-run home run on April 20, 2011 vs. San Francisco off Matt Cain at Coors Field. Wigginton has at least 15 home runs in seven of his last eight seasons, since the 2004 season.

The Rockies currently have 37 players on their 40-man roster.