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Phils finalize Jimmy Rollins trade

MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have finalized their trade of Jimmy Rollins, sending the All-Star shortstop and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for right-hander Zach Eflin and left-hander Tom Windle.

The deal was agreed to last week at the winter meetings and announced Friday, a day after the Dodgers completed a trade that sent slugging outfielder Matt Kemp to San Diego.

Rollins, who had a no-trade clause in his contract, said he would have approved a trade to just three teams, the Dodgers, New York Yankees and New York Mets. He said the Dodgers were No. 1 on his list.

"I've always loved the color blue, but most importantly they're built to win right this very moment," Rollins said. "I played against them, I have a sense of what they have going on in the clubhouse and seeing how they interact on the bench reminds me a lot of what we used to have in Philly."

Rollins said he bought an ad in Saturday's edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer which he called a "love letter" to Phillies fans to thank them for his 14 years in that city.

"They got to see me mature, become a husband, a father and they got to cheer me, they got to boo me and whatever else they wanted to in between," Rollins said. "They understand I was true to myself, I was true to my craft and I was a true Philly."

Rollins, a three-time All-Star, hit .243 last season with 11 homers, 55 RBIs and 28 steals. The 36-year-old had started 14 consecutive openers for the Phillies and helped Philadelphia win the World Series in 2008.

"The Dodgers are very lucky to acquire a player like Jimmy," Rollins' former teammate Chase Utley said in a statement. "I've said it time and time again that Jimmy makes everyone around him better. The team will miss his leadership on the field and his infectious smile, but most of all, I will miss our pregame handshake."

Elflin, 20, was 10-7 with a 3.80 ERA this year in 24 starts for Class A Lake Elsinore. Windle, 22, was a second-round draft pick in 2013 and went 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 25 starts and one relief appearance this year for Class A Rancho Cucamonga.

Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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