The Cincinnati Reds have traded 2nd baseman Brandon Phillips to the Atlanta Braves, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. The report also states that Cincinnati will pay most of Phillips’ $14million salary due in 2017, making the deal more financially digestible for Atlanta. Phillips is in the final year of a six-year, $72.5 million extension that he signed with Cincinnati back in 2012
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that in exchange for Phillips, the Reds will receive pitchers Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portuondo. Atlanta is interested in Phillips due to an injury sustained by Sean Rodriguez in a recent car accident, according to Rosenthal.
Phillips had rejected a trade to his hometown of Atlanta earlier this offseason and as rejected trades in the past to the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Braves took to their Twitter account to make the official statement:
#Braves acquire second baseman Brandon Phillips (@DatDudeBP) from the Reds in three-player trade. Details: pic.twitter.com/5FOSBJMvEV
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) February 12, 2017
Phillips has played 11 of his 15 major league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. In 2016, Phillips batted .291 with 11 home runs and 64 RBIs in 141 games.
McKirahan, 27, appeared in 27 games in relief for the Braves in 2015, posting a 5.93 ERA. McKirahan had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and again last year. Portuondo, 29, played only 17 games between Class A and Triple-A last season.