Phillies ink Rollins to rich three-year deal

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Jimmy Rollins has signed a three-year Major League Baseball contract worth $33 million, the club announced on Monday.

The deal includes a vesting option for a fourth season at $11 million for the 2015 season that could, if not vested, become a player option at $5 million or a team option at $8 million.

The three-time All-Star shortstop was a free agent for the first time after spending his entire career with the Phillies since being chosen in the 1996 draft.

Rollins, the 2007 National League Most Valuable Player, batted .268 with 16 home runs, 63 runs batted in and 30 steals this past season.

Rollins, 33, had a four-year offer from Milwaukee but decided to stay with the club he knew best in a year when many top players moved on to new clubs, including Albert Pujols from St. Louis to the Los Angeles Angels and Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle to Miami.