Originally Posted by Scrap Irony
I'd talk to Phillips to gauge his interest and money expectations first. If it's anything more than $6 million per year, I'd deal him-- perhaps this offseason. He's the top 2B in the National League this year, everything considered.
A blockbuster deal that would makes sense for both sides would be to deal him to San Francisco. I'd think a Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips for Freddy Sanchez, Eric Surkamp, and Sergio Romo swap would be attractive to both teams.
Phillips would help the Giant offense a bit, if only because he stays healthier than Sanchez and has more power. His defense would allow San Francisco to shop for a FA SS like, say, Marco Scutaro, who doesn't have as much range, but still carries a plus bat. Stubbs would become the Giant CF and provide good power and range. He'd have been their best full-time OF this season (not counting Beltran). Add the two to the rest of the 2012 Giant team and you might actually have an above average San Francisco offense.
Romo becomes the Red closer, a vital role filled more than capably on the cheap. (That's the holy trinity of Redszone usefullness right there-- good, cheap, and underrated.) He's blocked by Wilson with the G-Men, and they have other options in a deep, deep bullpen, so, while he would be missed, he is replaceable. This would have the added benefit of allowing Jocketty and company to move Chapman to the rotation, as Romo is basically who the Reds want Chapman to become, perephially.
Freddy Sanchez balances out the salaries a bit but provides an above average option in Phillips' absence. (He'd be a nice bet to really take off with the GABP as home park, too. He might end up with 15 dingers in Cincinnati and a 300/340/425/765 line. Solid, that.) He is older, at 34, but, with Cairo (and perhaps Valaika) around, you might be able to gamble for a year or two on the veteran. He's a nice number two hitter as well.
Surkamp is a nice lefty prospect with middling stuff but success at the minor league level. In other words, he's Travis Wood without the big league experience. He'd be another arm to add to the mix, perhaps allowing Jocketty and company to deal from excess quantity to find quality in another deal later on.
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