Jimmy Rollins will attempt to prolong career in San Francisco

Jimmy Rollins was out of baseball by the second week of June, and his only postseason work was as a television analyst. But that did not stop the former Phillies great from pursuing a job this winter.

He found an opportunity near home.

Rollins, according to Fox Sports, has signed a minor-league deal with the San Francisco Giants. He'll have a chance to win a bench role in spring training.

The 38-year-old shortstop is from nearby Oakland.

Rollins appeared in just 41 games last season for the Chicago White Sox. He signed a similar minor-league deal last spring, but a job with the White Sox was all but guaranteed. He hit .221/.295/.329 and lost his starting role after two months to 23-year-old Tim Anderson.

To win another big-league job, Rollins will likely have to show some versatility, which could mean playing at second or third base this spring. In his 15-year career, Rollins has played every inning but one in 2002 at shortstop.

He is the all-time hits leader (2,306) in Phillies franchise history.

Two other stars from the 2008 World Series team, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, have said they intend to play in 2017 but remain unsigned. Given the glut of free-agent first basemen and designated hitters, it appears Utley has a better chance of finding a job than Howard.