Poll: Do you want BP to be traded?

[kpresidente]

I think there's a reality the Reds need to face if they make a clumsy trade of Phillips and show up next season with a team a step behind the 2013 model.

I'd say upgrading Heisey/Paul to Ludwick and a full season of Cueto makes the team better right off the bat. You might say I'm cheating because injuries happen, but they stayed healthy in 2012.

[*BaseClogger*]

I think there's a reality the Reds need to face if they make a clumsy trade of Phillips and show up next season with a team a step behind the 2013 model.

He was a three win player in 2013. The Reds under-performed their pythag by three wins in 2013. He could be replaced by a handful of affordable free agents and not lose more than a win from Phillips"s 2013 performance.

I just think you've gone all hyperbole on how difficult it will be to replace the shoes of 2013 Brandon Phillips...

[Wonderful Monds]

He was a three win player in 2013. The Reds under-performed their pythag by three wins in 2013. He could be replaced by a handful of affordable free agents and not lose more than a win from Phillips"s 2013 performance.

I just think you've gone all hyperbole on how difficult it will be to replace the shoes of 2013 Brandon Phillips...

I see Brandon following the Orlando Hudson career arc at this point. Can't see him doing much more than floating around a 700 OPS for the rest of his career with declining defense.

[757690]

I see Brandon following the Orlando Hudson career arc at this point. Can't see him doing much more than floating around a 700 OPS for the rest of his career with declining defense.

Orlando Hudson was a solid 3 win player until he suffered a career ending concussion in 2011 when he was 34. His bat slowed around age 32, but he made up for it with above average defense until his concussion.

[757690]

He was a three win player in 2013. The Reds under-performed their pythag by three wins in 2013. He could be replaced by a handful of affordable free agents and not lose more than a win from Phillips"s 2013 performance.

I just think you've gone all hyperbole on how difficult it will be to replace the shoes of 2013 Brandon Phillips...

It won't be difficult, just expensive, and really not that much less expensive than keeping Phillips.

[redsfandan]

Trade Bailey for Profar. I think you could certainly do worse than a lineup of:

CF Hamilton
1B Votto
LF Kemp
RF Bruce
3B Frazier
2B Profar
C Mesoraco
SS Cozart

If Hamilton never gets off the ground, you could leadoff Profar and move Hamilton to the 8 hole. You'd also have flexibility to keep Kemp in CF and play Ludwick in LF, with whoever emerges the best from Ervin/Winker/Y-Rod taking over the LF spot (or CF if Ervin) beginning in 2015 or 2016. You also have the flexibility to trade the other two, or have one of them step in if Kemp continues to be injury-prone. (Similarly, if Kemp's ability to hit RHP continues to decline in 2016 and beyond, you could play Winker against the toughest RHP).

Bottom line is if the Reds were weak against LHP this year, they are not going to improve that area by subtracting Brandon Phillips, unless you replace him with some right-handed firepower. Kemp and Profar would certainly provide that.

I'm on board with Bailey for Profar.

Not sure about Kemp though. He's pretty injury prone.

[mth123]

Everyone is on board for Bailey for Profar. Except the Texas Rangers that is. If Profar goes, I'd expect David Price or Guancarlo Stanton is headed Texas' way. Otherwise they'll keep him.

[redsfandan]

Everyone is on board for Bailey for Profar. Except the Texas Rangers that is. If Profar goes, I'd expect David Price or Guancarlo Stanton is headed Texas' way. Otherwise they'll keep him.

I don't know. Bailey is the hometown guy, cheaper, and he has a high ceiling too. I could see Texas having interest in Bailey.

And I think Stanton would net more than just Profar.

[Benihana]

I think there's a reality the Reds need to face if they make a clumsy trade of Phillips and show up next season with a team a step behind the 2013 model.

This.

The idea of dumping Phillips at any cost really perplexes me.

[RedlegJake]

This.

The idea of dumping Phillips at any cost really perplexes me.

The problem may be that it doesn't perplex Bob Castellini - if he really wants Brandon gone.

[Unassisted]

This.

The idea of dumping Phillips at any cost really perplexes me.

That's because it's not a trade that's meant to make the team better. It's meant to make the clubhouse better and the owner happier.

I expect once BP's gone, more tales will dribble out to explain why the Reds felt he had to go. It would be counterproductive for those to be revealed yet, since they serve to further depress an already limited trade market for the guy.

And I don't believe the Reds intend to dump him at "any cost." They could just release him if they felt it was time to cut bait and they wanted to send a message to the rest of MLB not to bother with him. That zero-return transaction would be the ultimate cost.

[BungleBengals]

Update:

80 Yes
61 No

[M2]

That's because it's not a trade that's meant to make the team better. It's meant to make the clubhouse better and the owner happier.

IMO, that's a dumb way to run a team.

[Wheelhouse]

No. Before y'all get hot and bothered about getting rid of Phillips, watch this http://youtu.be/QVFICer-5h0 and remember that getting an opposing player out defensively is equivalent to avoiding an out as a hitter. Philips dies a heck of a lot of the former without even discussing the latter. He busted in on Dusty's presser because he knew he could get away with it, and that was partially Dusty's problem...

[Ravenlord]

Phillips is overrated and overvalued, especially now that he has a 100+ RBI season.

of course, i'd trade Latos, Bailey, and/or Hamilton if the deal was right. designating 'untouchable' players (and meaning it) in most situations is a sign of ineptitude.