With free agent second baseman Robinson Cano's asking price sitting at a steep $300 million, teams may be able to seek another option at second base as reports indicate that Brandon Phillips may be on the trading block. The Cincinnati Reds are reportedly willing to deal the second baseman if a deal is right.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Phillips has appeared to fall out of favor with the team and the Reds could be willing to part ways with the All-Star second baseman if they can find the right match for a deal.
Phillips is owed $50 million for the next four years of his original six-year $72.5 million contract, which will seem very cheap compared to the reported $300 million that Cano is seeking from suitors. It was rumored earlier this month that the New York Yankees have "inquired" to the Reds about Phillips in the event that the franchise can't re-sign Cano.
Phillips has made some waves in Cincinnati during his time there, publicly displaying his frustration with ownership over the negotiations that led to his six-year extension where he blasted the team and he also flipped out on a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter who tweeted about his low on-base percentage, which finished at .310 in 2013.
Phillips, whose low on-base percentage was noted, also hasn't been able to steal as many bases in recent seasons, but he did make the National League All-Star team again while also garnering a Gold Glove Award for his position. Phillips hit .261 with 18 homers and 103 RBIs while crossing the plate 80 times.
Phillips has been with the Reds since 2006, and has helped lead the team to the playoffs in three out of the past four years and the last two years in a row, but the team has failed to make a deep run in the playoffs, leading to the firing of manager Dusty Baker this offseason. With Baker gone, more changes may be made to the team's core if it decides to trade Phillips.
The Reds won the NL Central in 2010, but were swept out of the first round by the Philadelphia Phillies. The team missed the playoffs in 2011 but won the division for the second time in three years in 2012 with a 97-65 record. Their 2012 mark was the highest finish for Cincinnati since it won 102 games and won the World Series in 1976, but the team still exited the first round in five games after losing to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants.
In 2013, the team finished in third place in a great NL Central division and won 90 games, but lost the one-game Wild-Card playoff to the Pittsburgh Pirates and once again went home early.
It remains to be seen if the Reds will pull the trigger on a Phillips deal, but it appears for now that it's at least being talked about.
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