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Brandon Phillips is apparently still not ready to leave the Cincinnati Reds. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the second baseman used his no-trade clause to block a potential deal to the Atlanta Braves in November.

The Braves instead acquired Sean Rodriguez to fill their infield needs, making any potential deal for Phillips unlikely.

However, on Friday, ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden reported a deal to the Braves may not be dead just yet, but noted the situation is “difficult.”

Phillips has been the subject of numerous trade talks in recent years but has not been shy about using his no-trade clause. He was unwilling to go to the Arizona Diamondbacks last offseason, and while a move to the Washington Nationals seemed likely, he refused to agree without an extension.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported in November that Phillips would be more likely to waive his no-trade clause this offseason, but that is seemingly not the case.

“This is where I want to be,” Phillips said at the end of the 2016 season, per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “That’s why I’m still here, I’m happy. I played great for this city. I proved a lot of people wrong. I love the haters. They motivate me.”

The 35-year-old is a three-time All-Star with four Gold Glove awards, although he has lost a step in recent seasons. He did have a solid year with a .291 batting average and 34 doubles, but his 11 home runs were his second-fewest since becoming a regular in 2006.

After the Reds struggled to a 68-94 record last season, it makes sense for the team to want to move on from Phillips, who is in the final year of his contract, and play younger players while rebuilding. Cincinnati acquired second base prospect Dilson Herrera (22) from the New York Mets in a July trade for outfielder Jay Bruce.

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A key piece of the Cincinnati Reds’ roster is battling an injury, as second baseman Brandon Phillips is out of Tuesday’s lineup with an injured foot. 

Continue for updates. 

Phillips Not In Lineup

Tuesday, May 31

Per C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds scratched Phillips from Tuesday’s lineup due to a sore left foot. 

Rosecrans also noted that Jordan Pacheco is starting in Phillips’ place. 

At 34 years old, Phillips is no longer the All-Star second baseman from his prime years. He’s still a solid hitter, posting a .294 average in 2015. But he hasn’t had an on-base percentage higher than .328 since 2011, and his slugging percentage has been under .400 in each of the previous three years.

Phillips’ power has returned a little bit through 47 games played this season, as he’s slugging .420 with 16 extra-base hits.  

Despite the decline in his overall performance, Phillips has managed to mostly avoid major physical ailments. He did miss 41 games in 2014 because of a thumb injury but has not played less than 147 games in any other season since 2008. 

The Reds are already thin on talent as they go through a rebuilding phase. They currently have the second-worst record in the National League at 17-34.

Phillips, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce make up the heart of the order. Pacheco has appeared in 30 games for the Reds this season, hitting just .167/.167/.250 in 48 plate appearances. 

A diminished Phillips is still a valuable piece of this Cincinnati roster as presently constructed, both for his effort on the field and his leadership capabilities. 

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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips suffered a finger injury and left Monday’s game against the New York Mets after being hit by a Noah Syndergaard pitch. It’s unclear when he will return to the field.

Continue for updates.

Phillips Out vs. Mets

Tuesday, April 26

C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Phillips will not play against the Mets on Tuesday.

Reds Lose Phillips’ Experience in Lineup

Phillips is no longer the offensive force of his prime years, when he emerged as one of baseball’s most dangerous middle infielders due to his combination of power and speed. That said, he’s still a reliable producer for the Reds after vetoing two trades during the offseason in order to stay with the club.

Injuries have become more of a problem over the past couple of seasons. He missed more than a month during the 2014 campaign due to a torn thumb ligament and has dealt with various minor ailments since that point, including sitting out some games earlier this season while dealing with a stomach virus.

If he’s forced to miss more time, Ivan DeJesus Jr. is an experienced option capable of handling the spot on a short-term basis. The versatile Jordan Pacheco could also draw an occasional start at second in the meantime.

Although Phillips’ overall play has dropped off a bit in recent years, losing him would still represent a setback for the Cincinnati offense.

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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips will return for an 11th season with the team despite the fact he was almost traded twice this offseason.

Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty said the 34-year-old Phillips blocked trades to the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the second baseman made no mention of that when asked on Wednesday, per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).

“If that’s what he said, that’s what he said. I can’t really go off what people say,” Phillips said of Jocketty. “I only know what I really do. I know what the Aces, I’m represented by them, told me. I’m happy to be representing [Cincinnati], I play for the fans and I play for my family.”  

He played well last season, hitting .294 with 12 home runs, 70 RBI and 23 stolen bases after coming in at .266 with eight home runs and 51 RBI in just 121 games in 2014.

Phillips said he is glad to be back with the Reds, per the AP: “The only thing I know is I’m still playing for the Reds. I’m happy to be here. Whatever you all heard, that’s what you all really hear. I can’t really speak on many things.” 

He also said not to believe the hype that the Reds will struggle for a third straight year:

What we can do is go out there and prove people wrong. I don’t believe in the word rebuild and telling the city we’re not going to win. Every major leaguer comes to spring training to try to win and try to get to the World Series. That’s what our mission is to really do, no matter how young and how sorry people think we’re going to really be.

The four-time Gold Glove winner said he is willing to help younger players as much as he can, including 21-year-old Jose Peraza, the former Los Angeles Dodger the team acquired specifically to replace him.

“I’m an open book,” Phillips told the AP. “If you ask me a question, I’m going to tell you how it is. You might not like what I say but I’m a realist. Of course, I’m here to help out as much as I can.”

Phillips is now in his 15th season in the majors, and his production is obviously not going to increase. However, his manager, Bryan Price, said the second-base position is his to lose, per Joe Danneman of Cincinnati’s Fox 19 Now:

Phillips’ price tag is hefty at $27 million total over the next two years. But he does bring with him a veteran presence, and players like Peraza could greatly benefit from his experience. It might make sense to try to trade Phillips in the middle of next season before he becomes a free agent and going to a contending team appeals to him later in his career, but for now it appears he’s ready to help Cincinnati win in 2016. 

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Brandon Phillips might soon be headed to the Washington Nationals. That’s good news for Phillips, good news for manager Dusty Baker and quite possibly good news for the Nats themselves.

The deal isn’t done yet. But on Tuesday, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported the Nationals “are discussing” a trade with the Cincinnati Reds that would send the veteran second baseman to the nation’s capital.

Baker, of course, was Phillips’ skipper for six years with the Reds, and the two were close by all accounts. Now, Baker has a chance to add an ally and trusted lineup cog as he takes the reins of a team in need of a serious course correction.

As for Phillips, a trade to Washington (or anywhere) would get him out of a strained situation in Cincinnati. Phillips is a fan favorite and three-time All-Star, but his relationship with the media and teammates has been rocky.

In 2013, Phillips launched into an expletive-filled tirade against a reporter in Baker’s office. That same year, an unnamed clubhouse source questioned Phillips’ loyalty to the team, per Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News.

“You can’t tell by Brandon’s face whether we won or lost,” the source told McCoy, “but you can tell if he went 0-for-4 or 2-for-4 no matter if we won or lost.”

That raises the legitimate question of whether Phillips would jell with the Nationals. They got a bitter taste of clubhouse acrimony last season, which culminated in the ugly dugout scuffle between closer Jonathan Papelbon and MVP outfielder Bryce Harper.

Do they really need another player with a reputation as a malcontent?

Well, that’s where Baker comes in. Criticize him all you want for his noted aversion to analytics. Chastise him as a “clog-up-the-bases” luddite. And by all means shake your head at the tone-deaf comments he made to reporters about domestic violence in the wake of the Aroldis Chapman incident.

The one thing essentially no one denies about Baker is that he’s an excellent players’ manager. He babysat Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent in San Francisco and handled Sammy Sosa in Chicago. Surely he can juggle the egos in the Nats’ locker room.

Having Phillips in his corner might make that task a little easier. And assuming Phillips isn’t a distraction off the field, he should be an asset on it. 

Yes, he turns 35 in June. But he’s coming off a solid season that saw him play 148 games while posting a .294/.328/.395 slash line with 12 home runs and 70 RBI. And while he may not live up to his four-time Gold Glove pedigree, he was still good for five defensive runs saved in 2015, per FanGraphs. 

With Ian Desmond likely to walk via free agency, Yunel Escobar traded to the Los Angeles Angels and questions about the readiness of touted prospect Trea Turner, the Nationals need stability in the middle infield.

Phillips doesn’t fill the shortstop void left by Desmond, obviously, but he could provide a veteran ballast if Turner gets the Opening Day nod or allow Danny Espinosa to slide over to short as a placeholder. 

The Nationals, as Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer argued, are in unambiguous win-now mode with Stephen Strasburg hitting free agency next winter and Harper almost surely following him in 2018. Unless Washington is willing to open the vault, both players could leave. 

So the focus needs to be on constructing a winner now and atoning for last season’s epic collapse. It won’t be easy with the defending National League champion New York Mets now positioned as the class of the NL East.

As an added bonus, however, Phillips owns strong career numbers against the Mets, including an .863 OPS. 

Phillips is owed $13 million next season and $14 million in 2017. He also has a full no-trade clause but could ask for an extension or pay increase in return for waiving it, as Rosenthal noted. At the same time, Rosenthal added, “The Nationals should be in a flexible position financially—they recently offered free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward $200 million over an undisclosed number of years.”

Phillips isn’t Heyward, not even close. But with top free-agent options like Ben Zobrist off the board, he looks like a fit at second for the Nats. He’s definitely a fit with Baker.

And as the old saying doesn’t quite go: If the trade fits, make it.

All statistics and contract information current as of Dec. 15 and courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. 

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Opening Day remains months away, but the Cincinnati Reds are likely looking at another season without playoff baseball in 2016. As a result, Brandon Phillips may be an expendable asset this winter.

Continue for updates.

Phillips’ No-Trade Clause a ‘Roadblock’ for Any Potential Trade

Wednesday, Nov. 11

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks have engaged in talks about a possible trade involving Phillips, with Aaron Hill going the other way.

Phillips would be an upgrade offensively over Hill, which is important since Arizona should be competitive in the National League West in 2016.

Although Hill’s numbers have dipped since his second Silver Slugger Award win in 2012, he’s a free agent following the 2016 season, giving Cincinnati a little more flexibility down the road. Phillips is still owed $27 million over the next two years.

Executing this trade will be much easier said than done, however. Rosenthal noted how Phillips has a no-trade clause, which allows him to block any deal.

The Diamondbacks finished 79-83 last year and have a much better chance to win in 2016 than Cincinnati. With that said, Arizona won’t be a World Series favorite going into the season.

Given how long he has played for the Reds and how he’s become such a fan favorite for the franchise, Phillips will likely be extremely selective with whom he’ll be willing to waive his no-trade clause—if he even wants to leave Cincinnati in the first place.

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Mondays don’t have to be awful with DraftKings daily fantasy baseball. Even with only 10 games to pick apart on Monday, the possibilities are endless with a massive amount of stars playing.

However, several players have recently started to shine again heading down the final stretch of the season. Here’s a look at those names on the rise before locking in your lineups on DraftKings.

Pitcher: Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves ($8,100)

Julio Teheran has finally turned a corner. The Atlanta Braves starter got off to a rocky start this season but seems to have stabilized down the stretch. Teheran has tallied more than 21 fantasy points in three of his last four starts.

Another factor to take into consideration is his home-away splits with 20.9 fantasy points per game at Turner Field. That pales in comparison to his 8.8 points on the road. Going against the Colorado Rockies, who are 1-5 in their last two series, Teheran should shut the door for fantasy owners.

First Baseman: Mark Trumbo, Seattle Mariners ($3,600)

A change of scenery appears to have benefited Mark Trumbo. The former Los Angeles Angels star was scuffling with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to the Seattle Mariners. If his recent starts are any indication, he might be the weapon Seattle needed for the future.

Over his last three games, Trumbo has just three hits. However, two were home runs and the other was a double. With an average of 15 points per game in the last three starts, look for Trumbo to serve as a solid first-base option against Felix Doubront and the Oakland Athletics.

Second Baseman: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds ($4,000)

He might not be the player he once was, but Brandon Phillips is more than capable of putting up great fantasy numbers. Starting the year on my “Duds” list, Phillips has put together a good season with several stretches of great production.

As one of the more expensive options on this list, the Reds infielder is well worth the price thanks to his matchup. Going against Buck Farmer, who has an ungodly 8.39 ERA and has been shelled nearly every start, look for Dat Dude to tee off on the rookie. At $1,000 less than the top option, Phillips is worth the price.

Third Baseman: Brett Lawrie, Oakland Athletics ($2,900)

Every once in a while, DraftKings owners can find gems at or below the $3,000 mark at key positions. For those in need of a third baseman who is heating up, Brett Lawrie is the perfect starter.

Since his return to the lineup after back soreness, Lawrie lit up the Rays over the weekend with six hits in three games. Averaging 10.7 points in that series, Lawrie will look to continue that on Monday. Even against Hisashi Iwakuma, Lawrie should outperform his salary for DraftKings owners.

Outfielder: Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves ($3,500)

Nick Markakis still hasn’t found the consistency he once had in Baltimore, but the Braves outfielder is starting to churn out good numbers. Over his last five games, Markakis has averaged 9.2 fantasy points with three extra-base hits and two multihit outings.

At his price tag, owners can afford to put him as a low-end No. 2 option or high-end No. 3. Going against Jorge De La Rosa, who has been erratic in four August starts, Markakis will put up solid numbers for owners at a decent value.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

Follow R. Cory Smith on Twitter for more MLB DraftKings advice.

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The Cincinnati Reds‘ season hasn’t quite gone the way the team and fans had hoped, but even despite having a losing record, the 2015 MLB All-Star Game hosts have several players who have made a strong bid to play in the Midsummer Classic.

No Cincinnati position player is in line to start this year’s All-Star Game. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a deserving candidate, like third baseman Todd Frazier.

Regardless of whether or not the Reds have a starter in the game shouldn’t matter. The team is guaranteed to have at least one player selected to the National League team, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the hosts get three players on the squad.

Keep reading to find out which Reds players have made the best case to represent Cincinnati at the Midsummer Classic.

*All stats are via MLB.com. On Monday, the Reds tweeted out the latest NL voting update.

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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips left Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning after suffering a strained groin.    

Continue for updates.

Phillips Leaves vs. Phillies

Tuesday, June 9

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted Phillips’ injury happened when he slid into third base after a Todd Frazier lineout in the first inning. He initially stayed in the game but exited in the third inning, finishing 0-for-1 with a flyout and a walk.

Skip Schumaker replaced Phillips, moving over to left field. Ivan De Jesus took over at second in the field.

Phillips, 33, is hitting .308/.349/.385 with three home runs and 25 RBI this season. He’s added eight stolen bases and is on pace for his best all-around campaign since 2012. His re-emergence has unfortunately not helped Cincinnati in the standings, as the Reds sit 12 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central.

De Jesus will likely receive a majority of the playing time at second if the injury forces Phillips to miss any extended time. The Reds host the Phillies at 12:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday, so it’s likely we’ll get a status update sooner rather than later. They then head out on the road for a six-game trip.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.

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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips left Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves with a big toe injury.

Continue for updates.

Phillips Leaves Tuesday’s Game

Tuesday, May 12

The team’s official Twitter account noted that Phillips left Tuesday’s game with a left big toe injury and “is in the process of being evaluated.”

After the Reds’ 4-3 win, manager Bryan Price didn’t have much of an update on Phillips, per Joe Danneman of Fox 19 in Cincinnati: 

If Phillips misses an extended period of time, Cincinnati’s lineup becomes much less formidable. He was hitting .311 with five stolen bases entering play Tuesday and is a critical cog in a group featuring Joey Votto, Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce. Phillips brings speed and the ability to hit for average to the table.

However, it is Phillips’ defense that Cincinnati will miss most. He is a four-time Gold Glove winner at second base and is generally accepted as one of the slickest players in the league with his glove. He regularly saves his pitching staff runs with fantastic diving plays in the hole and rapid-fire double-play turns in the middle of the infield.

Skip Schumaker came in for Phillips in Tuesday’s game and will likely be asked to play second base until Phillips is healthy again.

Schumaker doesn’t feature the same power or ability with the glove that Phillips does, but he is a proven veteran who played in numerous postseasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds could do worse in terms of backup options.

Still, if Cincinnati hopes to challenge for a wild-card spot in the National League, it needs Phillips healthy and making impressive plays with his glove.   

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