There's always a team during the MLB offseason that's linked to trades involving players the club says it has no interest in moving and this season the Cincinnati Reds have been that team, with Brandon Phillips and Homer Bailey coming up in rumors and now the team has interest in Omar Infante, making the Atlanta Braves, Yankees and Texas Rangers in play for the 2B.
Reports came out that the Yankees rejected a trade for Brett Gardner involving Brandon Phillips, but that doesn't mean a deal won't come up again. The Yankees reportedly were interested in Infante this offseason, but have balked at him asking for a three year deal. Now reports from Hardball Talk have come out saying that the Reds are interested in signing Infante, but to do that they need to work on moving Phillips and teams like the Braves and the Rangers could be in play. The Yankees are a good fit for Phillips after losing Robinson Cano, but they likely don't want to get tied down to a $50 million contract even though he is productive.
The Rangers traded away Ian Kinsler in the Prince Fielder trade and they could be an option, while the Braves have been dying to get rid of Dan Uggla and it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that they could pull off a deal. There were reports earlier in the offseason that the Braves and Reds could do a deal straight up, but the Infante news likely changes that. The Yankees were also linked to Uggla, but nothing went farther than rumors in that case.
The report from Hardball Talk says that Phillips and the Reds were talking about a move and that he said he would waive his no trade clause if the deal was looked at and more money was added, but that did not work out either. The Royals reportedly are linked to Infante as well and there is a chance that they could sign him.
The Reds ideally would like to trade Phillips and take on a cheaper second base option and that would enable them to sign Homer Bailey long term. Phillips has a no trade clause with 12 teams according to CBS Sports and that is one thing that is hanging up any moves and is one reason why the Yankees deal did not work out. Phillips is a very productive second baseman and is a gold Glove winner and while the Yankees have some money issues, he is a player that would fit in well.
