Buy low, sell high. It's time to shop...Brandon Phillips

[15fan]

Angels and M's have a nice race going in the AL West. Both teams could use another bat, especially up the middle.

Detroit & Cleveland also have a nice race going. Pair Phillips up the middle with Carlos Guillen, and slide Polanco over to the hot corner, and you're looking at a whole lot of offense in Detroit.

Mets & Braves have a close race in the AL East. 2b hasn't done much for the Mets this year. An IF of Wright, Reyes, Phillips and Delgado puts NY in the drivers seat in the NL.

Everyone except the Giants are still alive in the NL West. Giles hasn't given the Padres anything this year at 2b.

What makes Phillips so appealing to trade is what makes him so appealing to keep: he's a bat and a MI glove who is also very cheap. That means he's attractive to every team out there.

The question is whether anyone is willing to give up enough pitching to get him in the next 12 days.

If the Reds are going to compete any time this decade, they need a whole lotta pitching. Phillips might be the organization's best shot to address that need in a substantive manner.

[bucksfan2]

Brandon Phillips is the kind of player you build around, not a player to trade just his second full season in the bigs.

[15fan]

Exactly.

That means that about 26 of the other 29 teams would be interested in acquiring a guy like Phillips. That makes it easier for the GM to go out and get a couple of teams in a bidding war.

And when you're selling, a bidding war for what you've got is as good as it gets.

[GAC]

Originally Posted by 15fan

What makes Phillips so appealing to trade is what makes him so appealing to keep: he's a bat and a MI glove who is also very cheap. That means he's attractive to every team out there.

And those are the very reasons why he should be appealing to us. We have a solid, young ballplayer here who is cheap, fills a dire need, and we're saying it's time to sell him?

What is the logic behind it? IMHO, you're not going to get anything substantial, as far as pitching for him - not when everyone else is pretty much out there looking for serviceable pitching (more then position players) - and you're just creating another "hole" on this team. I like BP at 2B, but he could also be a solid SS to.

[redsmetz]

Originally Posted by GAC

And those are the very reasons why he should be appealing to us. We have a solid, young ballplayer here who is cheap, fills a dire need, and we're saying it's time to sell him?

What is the logic behind it? IMHO, you're not going to get anything substantial, as far as pitching for him - not when everyone else is pretty much out there looking for serviceable pitching (more then position players) - and you're just creating another "hole" on this team. I like BP at 2B, but he could also be a solid SS to.

I don't know if I think we wouldn't get much, but I have to wonder when do we start allowing ourselves to have a player long term who helps us now and for the next 5-7 years? Otherwise, it's always just more rebuilding.

I don't think anyone's untouchable, but we've got a decent core of players that can make for a decent team in the not too distant future.

[15fan]

Reds are currently 12th of 16 in the NL with a team ERA of 4.67. Houston and St. Louis are 13th and 14th, with ERAs of 4.68 and 4.69, respectively.

Cincinnati bullpen is tied for 2nd with 15 blown saves this year.

This team isn't going anywhere until it comes up with significantly better pitching.

If the Reds want another top flight young starting pitcher, or maybe a solid set up man and a closer with lights-out potential, they're going to have to give something up to get it.

I'm not suggesting the Reds give away Phillips. I like him too. But his value's just about as high as it's ever going to be.

So let's see what the market is.

[Falls City Beer]

Originally Posted by 15fan

Reds are currently 12th of 16 in the NL with a team ERA of 4.67. Houston and St. Louis are 13th and 14th, with ERAs of 4.68 and 4.69, respectively.

Cincinnati bullpen is tied for 2nd with 15 blown saves this year.

If the Reds want another top flight young starting pitcher, or maybe a solid set up man and a closer with lights-out potential, they're going to have to give something up to get it.

I'm not suggesting the Reds give away Phillips. I like him too. But his value's just about as high as it's ever going to be.

So let's see what the market is.

I agree. It's the right strategy. You may not like the return offers, but I'd be shopping him hard, too.

[Always Red]

Well, from another thread, we're going to keep Arroyo for the same reasons, plus the Reds need pitching, not hitting.

If the Reds are going to bring in talented players, they need to trade some talented players. We're really not going to get beans for Conine, Hatte, Valentin, etc.

I'm not advocating trading BP at all. But if this team is going to change it's personnel, well, you need to give in order to get. I personally do not think a team in a pennant race is going to trade a top SP for BP. Maybe in the offseason, but not right now.

Or, we just keep the guys we have, and Kriv can keep rummaging through the garbage dump- it's worked well for guys like BP, Hammy, Loshe etc. Maybe he can find us a closer and another SP that way?

[jojo]

Originally Posted by 15fan

Angels and M's have a nice race going in the AL West. Both teams could use another bat, especially up the middle.

Neither team is looking to upgrade their middle infield. The Ms recently bought out both Yuni and Lopez thru 2012 signaling they have made a long term commitment to their doubleplay combination by fixing their cost. Besides they desparately need pitching.

The least of the Angels problems are Kendrick and Cabrera though I'm sure they'd be happy to trade E. Santana for Phillips.

The Phillies might have one of the best ss-2b combos in the game especially offensively.

I don't see any of these teams giving up quality pitching for Phillips.

While I'm not nearly as high on Phillips' defense as some others are, I think the Reds should ride him during his cheap years.

[registerthis]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

I agree. It's the right strategy. You may not like the return offers, but I'd be shopping him hard, too.

As would I. I'm also wary of players whose SLG% is HR-driven. If/when the power goes away, so does the production. Which isn't to say that Phillips' production this year hasn't been outstanding--he's having a heckuva year. Too bad it's wasted on a team mired in last place.

[RedLegSuperStar]

No..

He's very cheap, he's a gold glove type fielder, and he hits for pop as well as for a decent average.

He is the type of player you keep and build around.. enough said!

Unless you're getting Dontrell Willis, Hanley, Ramirez, Miguel Cabrera, David Wright, Jose Reyes, or someone along those lines.. you keep Phillips!

[edabbs44]

I wouldn't be actively shopping him, but I wouldn't be turning away anyone who asks. There should be a price for everyone...some higher than others.

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

I wouldn't be actively shopping him, but I wouldn't be turning away anyone who asks. There should be a price for everyone...some higher than others.

I agree with this. I wouldn't be categorically opposed to dealing him, but my asking price would be sky high. The Angels would have zero interest in Phillips given their plethora of middle infielders (Kendrick, Cabrera, Aybar, Wood) and the possibility of acquiring A-Rod in the offseason. In fact, I don't see too many big market playoff teams that have a gaping hole at 2B. The Yanks and the Red Sox? No. The Cubs and the Brewers? No. The Tigers, Phillies or Dodgers? Nope. The Padres have nothing that appeals to me, and I doubt the Indians would pay a premium to reacquire the same guy they gave away for peanuts just a year ago. The Mets aren't going to give up pitching in the middle of a playoff race, and Mike Pelfrey wouldn't be enough. The only two teams that strike me would be the M's and the Twinkies. From the Mariners, I would be asking for Adam Jones, Brandon Morrow and Jeff Clement. From the Twinkies I demand Matt Garza and maybe Glen Perkins. A lot to ask? Of course. But Brandon Phillips is probably more valuable to the Reds than he is a big market team, being enormously productive at a premium position, and most importantly being signed relatively cheaply for three more years. There is absolutely no reason to push him out the door.

[RFS62]

Shop him, yes. But don't trade him unless you get bowled over.

No marginal returns.

[HotCorner]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

Brandon Phillips is the kind of player you build around, not a player to trade just his second full season in the bigs.