It was assumed that Brandon Phillips would be traded as soon as the Cincinnati Reds could find a partner. The two sides were not on good terms after Phillips balked at the large contract he signed. CEO Bob Castellini referred to the second baseman's comments as a "slap in the face." Despite the Reds and Phillips not being the best of friends, Cincinnati is denying actively trying to get rid of the veteran.
According to MLB.com, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty says the team is not engaging with any other teams about potentially trading Phillips. However, Jocketty says that does not mean Phillips will be in a Reds uniform come the 2014 season.
"[Phillips] texted wanting to know if we were trading him. I told him that I have not spoken to anybody about that," Jocketty told reporters Tuesday. "I'm not talking to any clubs about him."
Jocketty has not talked to any teams, but he certainly is not denying the idea that Phillips could be headed elsewhere. The general manager told reporters that no one on the team was considered "untouchable" so anything is possible when it comes to moving players and bettering the team.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reports the Atlanta Braves could be very interested in a deal for Phillips if the Reds take on Dan Uggla as part of a package. That is almost laughable considering the season Uggla is coming off of. The second baseman is owed $26 million on his current deal which could create a nice trade. Having Phillips and short stop Andrelton Simmons on the same field almost seems unfair. However, Uggla is not a favorable trade option.
The issue with trading Phillips will come down to his contract. The 32-year-old is owed $50 million through 2017. While the second baseman can still be a big threat at the plate and on defense, that is a lot of money for another team to take on for an aging player. The Braves could certainly make a play for him considering Brian McCann and on his way out and the team has some money to spend. Even if the Reds do not take Uggla, the Braves might make a move.
The Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles have also reportedly been mulling a deal for Phillips. The future of the second baseman will simply come down to money. A team must be willing to take on a long-term commitment for a player that might not see the end of his current contract. With the coyness of Cincinnati's general manager, Phillips might be able to guarantee he will be with another team come next season.
