The Cincinnati Reds bowed out of the 2013 playoffs in the one-game wild card round in disappointing fashion. After firing manager Dusty Baker, the Reds are apparently not done remaking their organization. Word has now come that they plan on trading second baseman Brandon Phillips this winter as well.
Phillips posted an OPS of just .706 (his worst as a Red) in 2013, but did hit 18 home runs, while driving in 103 runs. But when you consider that he has four years and $50 million left on his contract, a WAR of 1.7 is pretty terrible.
But more than his play, reports claim that the 32-year-old Phillips (no relation) is on the trade block mostly because has ruffled some feathers in the Reds organization. His behavior has reportedly upset a lot of people around the team, and he even called Reds owner Bob Castellini a liar this past season. Clearly that wasn’t the way to endear himself to the franchise.
The Reds apparently determined they had to trade Phillips at least a month ago.
But would anyone around the league be interested in trading for a 32-year-old second baseman who is wildly overpaid? It’s possible, but only if the Reds were prepared to pick up a significant portion of his salary and not expect much in return. It would basically have to be a straight salary dump for Cincinnati.
The Reds have one of the most talented rosters in the big leagues, so the fact that they haven’t advanced past the National League Division Series in their last three postseason appearances (2010, 2012 and 2013) has been a huge disappointment. In fact, the Reds last got past the NLDS back in 1995 and they were promptly swept by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series.
Something has to change in Cincinnati and firing Dusty Baker was apparently just the first step. Expect Brandon Phillips to be in another uniform next season.