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Jimmy Rollins: Mets were my No. 2 trade choice

Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Rollins wasn't just open to joining the Los Angeles Dodgers when the Philadelphia Phillies asked him where he wanted to be traded to last year.

The veteran shortstop revealed the New York Mets were also on his wish list to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick on Saturday.

"This (L.A.) was my No. 1 landing spot," Rollins said. "And I considered the Mets to be No. 2. They have some arms over there - oh my gosh.

"I'm not saying I would have gone there. It would have taken a lot. But when I was asked, 'Write down the places you would go if you don't have any (no-trade protection),' I had one team on my list and another where I would go if it didn't work out. Fortunately it worked out here (L.A.)."

The Mets were aggressively seeking an upgrade at the shortstop position over the winter, and were interested in acquiring Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies, among others. A deal never got done, however, so Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada will battle it out this spring for the starter's job.

Rollins, who has spent his entire 15-year career in the Phillies organization, waived his 10-and-5 trade rights to allow a deal to the Dodgers for a pair of minor-league pitchers in December.

Rollins will become a free agent following the 2015 campaign, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Mets are still on his radar.

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