According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal via Twitter, the Cincinnati Reds have dealt veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Atlanta Braves. The Reds are getting very little in return apparently as they were eager just to open up a roster spot and save some some money. A three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove award winner, Phillips waived his no-trade clause to make the deal possible.
The Reds are reportedly eating a good portion of the $14 million dollars that is left on Phillips’ final year of his contract. They have been desperate to deal Phillips ever since they acquired second base prospect Dilson Herrera from the New York Mets at the trade deadline last season in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce. Herrera will now take over at the keystone for Cincinnati and make his Reds debut in 2017.
On the other side of the deal, Phillips, who makes his home in Atlanta, will take over as the Braves starting second baseman after they lost Sean Rodriguez for 3-6 months due to injuries he suffered in a car accident last month.
Rodriguez was hospitalized along with his wife and children but luckily all survived the crash and were not critically injured. Rodriguez is scheduled to have shoulder surgery next week.
A career .274/.320/.421 hitter, Phillips hit .291/.320/.416 with 34 doubles, 11 home runs, 64 RBI, 74 runs scored and 14 stolen bases for the Reds in last season.
