Reports this offseason have gone back and forth on whether or not the Reds will trade Brandon Phillips. Earlier today it was reported that the Reds' ability or inability to trade their second baseman could impact their chances at retaining Shin-Soo Choo. We'll run down rumors on Phillips right here…
- Phillips is "definitely" in play, tweets Rosenthal, adding that Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty will move his second baseman if it improves the club in 2014.
Earlier Updates
- The Reds aren't ruling out a trade of Phillips, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. They've yet to have any discussion with the Yankees at this point after New York missed out on Robinson Cano, though.
I agree. Choo will decide Phillips fate.
What do you suppose it would take for NYY to land Phillips?
Hopefully nothing they would ever give up.
Something they don’t have
Which is??? If you’re talking about high end prospects, Reds can forget it unless they pay a very good portion of a heavily declining 2B.
I don’t know, maybe players/prospects with trade value that the Reds might want?
And before people get on the Phillips for Gardner straight up trade, there’s no way the Reds do that. They’d want a prospect on top of that, most likely, and they wouldn’t send any cash to the Yankees in the trade. They think they have more leverage now that Cano has gone to the M’s.
Gardner and Sanchez is all they have with any trade value.
Yankees better not give up either unless Reds pay money.
I hope the Yankees avoid that at all costs. You obviously haven’t seen his numbers the past 2 years. Also if it was a straight up trade , then the Reds are basically getting a draft pick anyway since Gardner would surely get a QO after this year
Very true. But as I said , they shouldn’t expect any team to give high end prospects unless they pay a good portion of it.
Phillips +10 MM for Gardner.
would not happen. The reds want to trade phillips to get rid of contract not get rid of money as well.
They will likely have to pay some $ unless they take back some lesser prospects that may or may not factor into the team any time soon.
Infante is going to sign for $10M or more. Phillips is only $12M, he’s the better player and they’re the same age. (3.6 WAR vs. 2.7 WAR average last four years)
yeah, I really don’t see how Phillips’ four years at somewhat bargain is worth less than one year of Gardner. It is not like Gardner is a power, OF bat. Doesn’t much of his value comes from his defense?
I think it does, but also includes his ability to drive up pitch counts and his speed at the lead off position.
Speed on the bases, his defense, his respectable On-Base clip for an outfielder, and he’s making a modest salary in this day and age. The only caveat is that he is in his walk year.
Phillips may not be an ideal middle of the order bat but Reds are basically giving up that for a lead-off type hitter when they actually have Hamilton who may become a bit lesser, more speedy version of Gardner. It does not make sense to me.
True, but adding more speed to the lineup wouldn’t hurt. Correct me if i’m wrong, but I thought Hamilton was a second sacker? With Choo all but gone, I think the Reds could use some OF help. Though it doesn’t have to be from the Yankees.
I don’t know about recent changes but I know in minors, they had moved Hamilton from SS to CF last season.
Well it’s more about the payroll dump. However, the Reds wouldn’t just be getting Gardner, they’d also be getting the Qualifying Offer Draft Pick for Gardner next year if he signs elsewhere.
Gardner + 40 million?
That’s only 2.5 Mil per season…. That’s not much out of pocket for the Reds to free up between 9 and 12 Mil.
I’m probably crazy because I’m a Yankee fan but I’d like to see them deal Gardner for Phillips and get Choo.
1 – Ellsbury CF
2 – Jeter SS
3 – Beltran LF/RF/DH
4 – Texeira 1B
5 – Phillips 2B
6 – Choo LF/RF
7 – McCann C
8 – Soriano LF/RF/DH
9 – Johnson – 3B
That makes Masterson impossible to acquire but I don’t think it’s possible anyway. I also know i’m betting heavy on Tanaka being posted, and that the Yankees can win out with the other winning bidders. I could live with CC, Tanaka, Nova, Kuroda, Pineda as my rotation.
There is no way the Yankees can sign 5 of the highest paid FA this offseason. 6 if you count Kuroda. They’d be completely broke.
Not to mention having a dreadful farm system or any type of talent to develop. Signing every FA they can and losing all kinds of draft picks is what put them in the position they are in.
Actually, doing the FA signings as needed in one offseason is the smarter way to go. The Yankees have only lost draft picks in ’08 and this year for that reason.
The Yanks got 3 great first round picks last year, and I would look for a big boost in their farm system when Banuelos and Pineda return to form. Both should be in the mix mid year!
The reason why they got those was because they didn’t sign anyone big last year.
Farm system was ranked 14 last year by most experts, middle of the pack!
I get that…however their top prospect is catcher Gary Sanchez, yet they sign McCann.
Pure speculation, but I think once Texeira’s contract is up (after 2016 season), the Yankees move McCann to 1st base and Sanchez becomes the full time catcher.
Good possibility, especially since McCann let it be known before he signed that he would play 1B and DH to play in the AL.
I have heard that scenario as well. I am not all that pumped up over Sanchez. Too many similarities to Jesus Montero. Best example, the organization is now saying that Sanchez’ defense behind the plate has not progressed as they had hoped and they are considering moving him to first base. The time for him to go may be now because his stock is dropping.
Not sure where you read that. Last I read his defense has improved. From Mike Axisa on River Ave Blues and MLBTR – Sanchez, who has “effortless, well-above-average raw power and an above-average hit tool,” is an easy call for the top spot, especially now that his defense has improved.
I hope that “completely broke” comment is hyperbole. You’re talking about the Yankees. New York City has a population just short of 8.5 million people. We’ll say 3 million of them are Yankees fans – that is just in NYC alone. The Yankees are a global brand. One of the reasons that they are such a hated team is that people who know nothing about baseball tend to be Yankees fans (you can throw the Red Sox into that as well, since their World Series victory’s in 2004 & 2007). I’m sure the Yankees could support a much larger payroll, and still make more money than the bottom 10 teams combined.
I think the term “broke” references the poor contracts in A-Rod and Wells, and the constant stating by Cashman that they want to stay under the luxury tax and never seem to. No baseball team is “broke.” It is a statement geared towards spending WAY too much money on players that aren’t worth it.
The Angels are paying almost all of Wells.
I took broke to mean “lacking money” not “not functioning (a la the Marlins).” I could be wrong, but I was speaking financially…
They would be broke prospect wise as all their picks are flying out the window 🙁
Yanks make over 300 million a year after salaries.
Is that based on baseball revenues only, or is that the business as a whole? They have their own TV station, and boat loads of merchandising outside of NYC (including with non baseball fans, and abroad). My guess is they are a billion dollar organization when all is said and done.
Not if they throw the 189 out the window and A-Rod is suspended for the year. The Yanks have the money!
I think they’re out of the Choo running. Adding another OF in Beltran made no sense, can’t see them adding Choo now. Phillips could probably had for Gardner and a couple other pieces though. As a Red Sox fan, I’m really hoping this isn’t the case, because the Yankees have already added to their lineup, and Cashman is letting it be known he needs a pitcher and I’m sure he gets one.
Adding Beltran made perfect sense because they needed a #3 hitter after losing Cano. The lineup still works because they are thinking a combination of Sorinao and Beltran as the primary DH to keep them both fresh. It’s a gamble with Jeter.
They should have kept Cano and not signed Ellsbury.
I love Cano … really gonna miss him. But I can’t fault them for not wanting a 10 year deal again especially with the Arod mess.
I also think there is some truth that deep down they didn’t want him for some reason.
I would have preferred 10 with Cano than 7 with the injury prone Ellsbury.
I wouldnt, then that would mean less money to improve the lineup and pitching
They are obviously not too concerned with luxury tax or a cap on the amount they want to spend. With a guy in his 30’s that relies on his legs for EVERYTHING, the Ellsbury contract is grossly inflated.
Cano is just not worth 10 years, simple
I absolutely agree! I don’t think anybody in baseball is. If anyone should get it, it would be Trout. I also don’t think Ells is worth 7, not at that money at least.
Even with Trout man, 10 years is just too long of a commitment for anybody.
Couldn’t agree more bro.
2 freak injuries in a career doesn’t = injury prone.
He has played in 1/3 of the Sox games since 2010…He stole 5 bases and sat out 5 games this past year for a quad. This is a guy who relies on LEGS!
It made sense in terms of the need for a bat, but in terms of their current roster with 4 out of 5 outfielders being old, and them wanting to rotate the DH, it made no sense.
Beltran, Soriano, Jeter, McCann, and maybe even Texeira will need DH at bats this year. Plus, there’s Ichiro. Their OF and DH situations are really crowded already. Adding a very expensive OF who will make that even more crowded makes little sense.
Derek Jeter – 39
Carlos Beltran – 37 when the season starts
Alex Rodriguez – 38
Soriano – 38
How about some youth to develop instead?
Youth does not develop in the Yankees farm system, unfortunately. Cano, Gardner, and Robertson are the only ones who have panned out nicely.
So in a matter of months you’ve completely forgotten about Clarkin, Judge, Katoh, and Jagielo?
Soriano doesn’t really count since they aren’t paying him all that much and it was only a year and a half gamble. But I hear you on the other three.
Tex will not be batting 4th, move him to the 5th spot. Soriano would be hitting 4th.
Jeter becomes the 8th place hitter on that team!
Phillips and Broxton for Gardner please.
I think the Reds would do that. It would shed a ton of payroll and the Reds could then sign Bailey and Latos long term. Hamilton can slide in at 2nd.
Heck yea they would, it would also give the Yanks a gold glove 2nd baseman with some pop and a solid option for the bullpen. Doubt they would take broxton though but i’m guessing it will take more than gardner to pry phillips away from cincinnati.
As a reds fan hell no
What would it take for the Jays to get him?
Please Cashman, avoid Brandon Phillips unless the Reds ate up some of the contract. OBP is sinking in the very low .300’s, his slugging percentage was under .400 last year. Still great defensively, but his bat is declining and his contract isn’t all that great. Owed $60 million for next 4 years, somewhere along those lines.
Depends, i would rather have Infante though.
So would I but latest rumors say he’s likely going to KC
$50M over 4, or $12.5 a year. Big difference.
It’s not solely the money. It’s the years.
Cashman should just try and get Garza and Infante. Garza has good AL east numbers but AJ Burnett did as well. Just dont get Ubaldo
If Reds are just looking to dump Phillip’s salary then NYY looks like a fit. If they want any serious value in return for him I don’t see a fit.
Blue Jays Colby Rasmus for Brandon Phillips straight up. Get ‘er done.
The Mariners Should Try To Trade for Him. They Could Bat Him 2nd in Front of Cano.
Ichiro and Pineda for Broxton and Phillips?
I think Phillips for ethier makes sense
Phillips for Ichiro makes no sense for Reds. They wouldn’t even want him. Only 2 teams I can see wanting Ichiro are the Giants and maybe the Mariners for a retirement thing. Might as well play there in what’s likely his final season with the team he started with.
In your dreams. That wouldn’t shed much shot term salary for the Reds and they want money to sign Choo not old washed up Ichiro
Ichiro is just a throw-in to offset $6.5MM of the $50MM of salary relief that they will be giving the Reds plus Pineda has a lot of upside potential. Cincinnati may not have much of an Asian population, but there will still be some novelty in having Choo and Ichiro in the same outfield for a year.
Could you make a more lopsided trade in the yankees favor?
Sure, but I don’t think that this is a lopsided trade. The Reds still get plenty of salary relief and a young pitcher with upside potential.
Sure, if you throw in Ellsbury and $100M.
No way give up Pineda… He’s finally healthy and the Yanks have him locked up for almost nothing for three or four years.
I would prefer to pay Phillips to be my 2B for the next 4 years than take my chances on Pineda during that time. I think that the risk/reward on this deal is right for both the Reds and the Yankees. Ichiro is just a throw-in to offset some of the money that the Yankees will be paying Phillips going forward.
There is no risk with Pineda… He is a potential 15 – 18 Game winner and you are paying him almost league minimum. That frees up cash to fill one of the 3 open rotation spots next year. Why not trade Gardner? The Yankees aren’t resigning him next year anyway.
Does not want brandone
As seen already the top brass have decided to spend whatever it takes to put a championship team on the field!
Spending has nothing to do with a championship team though. Ask the Jays from last season or the Sox from 2011, or the Dodgers, or the Angels, or the Tigers.
I believe we will trade Phillips to the Yankees for Gardener and Sanchez which could lead to a deal with the Angels with either Cueto, who will put butts in the seats with the Spanish speaking citizens, or Bailey if he can’t be signed long term for Howie Kendrick and another piece to be detremined. I can see Choo being left out in the cold and Hamilton can get more seasoning. Jockerty has Arroyo’s number on speed dial.
Well if Choo is the reason the Reds want to trade phillips that would eliminate NYY Gardner.. Choo played CF last year and the reds have Hamilton who they are high on wouldnt make any sense to add Gardner