Buzz: Reds could look to trade 2B Brandon Phillips
In a post to his new Twitter feed, Buster Olney of ESPN.com says the Reds are preparing to unload players.
“They’ll probably have to tie valuable young players to expensive veterans in order to move salary,” he explains.
…hmmm… i wonder if there is a way for the Mets to acquire Brandon Phillips and one of those pitchers, while giving up prospects and a player like Luis Castillo, which would end up being a net-gain in terms of money on Cincinatti’s end…
Original Post, 2:02 pm:
Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse believes the Reds could look to trade 2B Brandon Phillips or pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang, as they try to cut payroll for 2010, according to a major 
league source.
…i would love to see phillips starting at second base for the Mets… he’s a spray hitter, but will also hit 15 to 20 home runs… he’s a smart baserunner and he’s aggressive… and, though he is not the best defensive second baseman, he’s better than Luis Castillo…
Phillips will earn $6.75 million in 2010 and $11 million in 2011, after which he can be made a free agent, or the team can pick up a $12 million option for 2012.
…even at that money, in terms of production, defense and his position, i think phillips is bargain… more important, he is consistent… because of the way he handles the bat, and the fact that he hits left-handed pitching well, he tends to do the same thing, month after month, never dominant, rarely in a funk, he has never been on the disabled list, ever, and i think the Mets could benefit from that type of sound, balanced, reliable player…
In 2002, when he was GM of the Expos, and there was talk of Montreal being ‘contracted,’ Minaya traded Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Phillips, who were all prospects at the time, to the Indians for Bartolo Colon.
Speaking of second base, in a post to Amazin Avenue, Sam Page asks, “Is Orlando Hudson the answer at second base?”
