RealGM

Scott Rolen can’t say enough about the trade while, perhaps not unexpectedly, Roy Halladay has taken a vow of silence to relating his feelings about remaining in a Blue Jays uniform.

Rolen, the former Toronto third baseman who was shipped out of town on Friday just before the trade deadline to the Cincinnati Reds, spoke for the first time earlier today to reporters in his new zip code.

Here’s some of what he had to say.

“I’m thrilled to be here,” said the Indiana native. “This is as close to home as I can be. My parents brought me here to watch ballgames, and where I’m from there is a St. Louis, Cincinnati split right down the middle. I’m a Midwestern guy, and I enjoy being here. I certainly enjoyed my time in St. Louis with Walt and I enjoy this part of the country. This is a spot I wanted to get back to and be here for awhile.”

Walt would be Walt Jocketty, the Reds general manager.

As for him approaching Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi and asking him to see if he might be able to trade him, Rolen said that was true.

“When I was in St. Louis, I was real comfortable in that area,” he said. “I have a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, and my wife and parents travel quite a bit, my brother lives in this area. I’ve always wanted to try and finish up at home or get back to this area, this part of the country.

“I did approach J.P. and asked if he would consider moving me back to this area, to the Midwest. [Cincinnati] certainly would be my number one choice. J.P. approached me at one point and said he would look into it and try to accommodate me. I know he worked real hard, and I know Walt worked hard. I’m very thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to get back to where I’m from, to where my family is.”