9:01pm: While awaiting a decision from Phillips, the teams are still “working to finalize details,” ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets. Still, though, it seems the matter hinges on Phillips’s own decisionmaking, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted earlier.
7:00pm: The Angels and Braves are attempting to work out a deal that would send infielder Brandon Phillips to Los Angeles, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter link). Phillips, who was a late scratch from the lineup tonight, is considering right now whether to accept a deal, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets. He can block trades to a dozen clubs; presumably, the Halos are one of them.
Since cutting ties with Danny Espinosa earlier in the year, the Angels have relied heavily upon Kaleb Cowart at second base. But Cowart is slashing just .233/.289/.411 over 99 plate appearances on the year and has struggled badly of late. Having already added Justin Upton earlier today, the Halos are understandably looking to further bolster their lineup by targeting an area where they can make a relatively significant improvement at a marginal cost.
Phillips, 36, came to Atlanta from the Reds over the winter. He’s earning $14MM this year, but Cincinnati is covering all but a million of that sum. With less than $200K left on the Braves’ share of the bill, Phillips is an affordable option — though he also would stand to take home a $500K assignment bonus under a clause negotiated when he approved the trade to the Braves.
There’s also now some added versatility for the long-time second baseman, who has seen action at the hot corner for the first time this year. While he’s no longer a premium defender at second, Phillips is still a sturdy gloveman there and has drawn good reviews during his limited action at third.
With his typical low-walk, high-contact approach, Phillips has posted a .291/.329/.423 batting line over 499 plate appearances, with 11 home runs and 10 steals. That’s right around the league average in terms of overall offensive productivity, just where Phillips has landed in each of the prior five campaigns.
All told, though Phillips is far from a top-end second baseman, he has been a steadily useful player. For a team like the Angels, who have quite an evident need at second base, he could be quite a handy addition down the stretch and into the postseason.
Is this a good move on the angels
As long as the braves get a good deal it will be ok
Cannot really expect too much.
What would you consider a good deal?
Some more international pool money and a low level prospect
Agree with this.
Maybe we go try to get otani with the pool money we have built up
Good reviews? Or rave reviews?
Lol
I love that this is still a thing after so many months
This only confirms we are after moose or machado in the offseason
How? Phillips is an FA after the season anyway. Also Machado isn’t an FA this year
Think he at least means trade on Manny.
I agree…what is he talking about?? Brandon Phillips staying/going sets the tone for the off season?? I really want him to elaborate so I can understand the thought process
We are players to get moose in the offseason and a controllable starter this whole year we have been making trades to open up some cap space that’s been the plan for the braves all year it starts with a great starter and a third baseman I hope it’s moose so we don’t have to trade out top prospects for a rental if you watched the braves you would know the rebuilt plan and it would make since to you
Trading a ton of prospects for Machado, only to likely let him walk in FA at the end of the year, unless ATL forks out a club record $200 million + contract to resign him makes ZERO sense
Why do you say that?
Wishful thinking on an extreme level.
Machado for sure.
Angels making moves today
I pass on machado, we will have to give up 3 to 4 of our premium prospects and then lose him after the year. Hell no, stay away from him, it’s not like we are going to World Series with him. Our problem is pitching, pitching, and pitching in that order.
I agree with you 100 percent I don’t want manny but I know we are gonna try to get a 3b probably moose and still will get a great starting pitcher
What great starting pitcher do you know they are going to get? There really aren’t many available.
Arrieta
You can still trade for machado it’s not like we don’t have plenty of prospects
The deal for machado begins with acuna and Alvbies and also comes with a 300 mill plus commitment after next year to keep him, I’ll pass
Braves trading for Machado makes no sense, agreed. I will note that Acuna/Albies would be WAY over the top even if the Braves were at a place on the win curve where trading for him made sense. Albies and a couple low – level flyers seems like comparable value (in a vacuum, not for the actual Braves), but I think Acuna holds more trade value than Machado at this point.
Giving up prospects for one year that you’re not quite there is dumb. He’d help a ton, but 2019-2020 Is when the Braves window opens.
Funny, a couple years ago it was 17-18 you can try to rebuild but cards have to fall right and despite the Braves acquiring a healthy number of pitching prospects the previous few seasons they haven’t panned out. A new pitching coach should be on the ledger which would push their timetable up considerably. But it’s hard to really say they look like world beaters come 19-20
This would be a good low cost type move for the Angels. No reason for the Braves to keep him as they can bring back Ruiz to finish the season and get a good look at what he can do.
Carmargo and Garcia back on Monday, so no Ruiz.
Rosters expand today, so I think Ruiz is likely to return soon.
Another good move for Eppler, he upgrades second for the playoff run, and it won’t cost him that much.
Angels making good moves, Long is a ok prospect but won’t be anything more than a #5 starter and Phillips will probably be acquired for very little
Finally get someone who is consistent and constantly hits and the braves trade him. Braves management needs to get real. Keep him. Get rid of dickey and kemp ,go sign some good starters.
Don Birchfield, there is only one month left in the season and at the end of the year the Braves would have zero return on Phillips anyway. He surely isn’t going to help them win the World Series in Atlanta. It is definitely the best move to trade Phillips for ANYTHING (especially International pool money) instead of getting nothing for him at the end of the year.
Who knows if Phillips and the Braves are willing, perhaps they resign him to play third for 2018.
Noooooo!
Brandon Phillips is one of the most steady, consistent players I’ve seen. Guy didn’t even get enough credit while playing in a Reds uniform. At .291 with 11 homers and a steady defensive presence at second, I think the Angels can only benefit from a move like this. Worst case scenario, he’s a free agent at seasons end. It’s a win win for the Halos.
Makes sense
We haven’t had a second baseman since Howie….so…yes, please!
Impressed with the job that Eppler is doing.
Dat Dude is hard to trade. He has turned down trades to contenders before. That said, he’d be going to a good team with a player coach. Plus, it is only for a month plus playoffs. Hopefully Braves bring him back next season.
I have to give Phillips credit for the job he has done at third since Albies has been promoted to play second and for having a great career. With that said, I’ve never been a big fan of his. Phillips has always struck me personally as a self centered hot dog, but I know I’m in the minority.
Yeah, what’s you’re problem? He’s DAT DUDE! He seems like such a cool guy.
What’s my problem you ask? I’ve just never been a big fan of flamboyant baseball players (with the exception of Henderson). I’ve always gravitated towards the guys who just went out every day and did their job without a lot of flash. Guys like Bench, Yaztremski, Schmidt, Ripken and Dale Murphy always seemed my type of player. You don’t have to be flashy to be good.
Lol… So basically you are racist?
WOW! The Angels allowing personality on the team……. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
I would love to get Brandon Marsh back. Georgia kid who will fit well with the Braves system. But we probably should expect a similar return as Upton being Phillips is a lot cheaper financially to acquire. But if we had Dickey or JJ in there as well, we could ask for more.
On a different note, I would love to make a deal with Boston for their #30 prospect, Requena. Since Jimenez and Fowler have been dealt this year, I need a new prospect crush. I can see this kid rising to their top 15 next season.
My original comment has to be reviewed I guess. But I would love their #6 prospect Brandon Marsh but we will have to give them something on top of Phillips, like Demerritte or Fried. Or we can go for their #23 in Elvin Rodriguez. That kid looks good
A 29 year old minor league catcher……wow What was the point in trading him
I hope the Braves bring him back next year. Phillips has been solid all year, and in fact he won the Braves a number of games with walkoff hits. He’s an excellent hitter in the clutch and he’s still playing great baseball.