Reds trading second baseman Brandon Phillips to Braves
— -- Long rumored to be on the move, Brandon Phillips is finally leaving Cincinnati. A source told ESPN's Buster Olney on Sunday that the Reds have agreed to a trade that will send the second baseman to the Atlanta Braves.
A source told ESPN's Jim Bowden that Phillips passed his physical Sunday and will retain his full no-trade rights, which he waived to approve the trade to Atlanta.
The Reds will receive left-handed pitcher Andrew McKirahan and right-hander Carlos Portuondo, sources told ESPN. The 27-year-old McKirahan appeared in 27 games in relief for the Braves in 2015, posting a 5.93 ERA. He has undergone Tommy John surgery in 2012 and again last year. Portuondo is a 29-year-old Cuban whose only American experience is 17 games between Single A and Triple A last season.
Fox Sports was first to report that the sides were close to a deal.
The Braves have a need for a second baseman. Infielder Sean Rodriguez will undergo surgery on his left shoulder and will miss three to five months, according to Fox. Rodriguez, his wife and two young children were involved in a serious car accident on Jan. 28, when they were T-boned by a stolen Miami police cruiser. He suffered the injury during the crash, Fox Sports reported.
Trying to rebuild, the Reds have dealt stars over the past couple of years, including Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Johnny Cueto. Phillips rejected a trade to his hometown of Atlanta earlier this offseason. Last winter he turned down potential trades to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals.
Phillips is in the final year of a six-year, $72.5 million extension that he signed in 2012. He will make $14 million in the coming season, and Fox Sports reported that Cincinnati will pick up most of his salary. The league will have to sign off on the transaction, which is complicated by the amount of money involved.
The 35-year-old Phillips has played 15 years in the majors, the last 11 with Cincinnati. He is a three-time All-Star who is a .275 hitter and has won four Gold Gloves. Last season, Phillips hit .291 with 11 homers and 64 RBIs.
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