MLB Trade Rumors: Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Red Discussing Brandon Phillips Deal
Cincinnati Reds general manager Dick Williams and president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty hinted before the winter meetings that they are listening to all trade offers. A week after the meetings, the Reds are reportedly discussing a trade with the Washington Nationals regarding second baseman Brandon Phillips.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, new Nationals manager Dusty Baker wants to reunite with Phillips, who he coached for six years in Cincinnati from 2008 to 2013. Baker has to persuade Phillips that Washington is serious about winning and waive his no-trade clause.
The 34-year-old still has a two-year contract worth $27 million from the extension he signed last 2012. The Nationals will have to give Phillips an extension or a salary increase if he waives his no-trade clause as the market has inflated and it is a standard for players to receive an added incentive.
The report adds that there is no word if the deal is close to being done, but the Reds are looking for prospects to further stack their farm system. Washington is looking for an added help for the middle infield as Ian Desmond left to become a free agent.
The Nationals still have young prospect Trea Turner and Danny Espinosa as options in shortstop and second base. However, MLB Daily Dish reports that Espinosa will start the season at shortstop and Turner will be sent back to Triple-A if the team acquires Phillips, who will become the starting second baseman.
Bleacher Report notes that a reunion between Phillips and Baker will benefit both sides as well as the Nationals. The two are said to be very close in their time together at Cincinnati and Baker wants someone he trusts to be inserted in the lineup. It is a good move for Phillips to get out of the rebuilding Reds as they have no chance of contending for the next few seasons.
Cincinnati have already traded third baseman Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox in a three-team deal that also involved the Los Angeles Dodgers, as reported by CBS Sports. Besides Phillips, closer Aroldis Chapman, outfielder Jay Bruce and star first baseman Joey Votto have a chance to be dealt this offseason.
The three-time All-Star also is drawing interest from the Arizona Diamondbacks since the start of last season and his performance in 2015 is a solid .294 batting average with 12 home runs and 70 RBIs, per Baseball Reference. He has spent his career with the Cleveland Indians from 2002 to 2005 and the Reds since 2006.
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