MLB Trade Rumors 2015: Nationals Moving on from Brandon Phillips Trade Talk
It looks like the Washington Nationals have accepted that they no longer will get second baseman Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds, and the team has in fact moved on from their pursuit. This development came in after negotiations between the two teams became stagnant on Friday.
It was reported early last week that the Reds and Nationals have agreed in principle to swap Phillips with several minor league players, but they couldn't consummate the deal without the second baseman's waiver on his no-trade clause.
The 14-year veteran reportedly didn't like the trade offer unless his current team laid out a better compensation in return of signing the waiver. Since he is already a 10-year veteran in the MLB, and the fact that he spent at least five years in the same team, he now comes with the right to prevent and reject any trade proposal involving him.
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For Reds fans, it can be recalled that when Phillips opted to sign with the team in 2012, the deal, which at that time was worth $72.5 million for six years, was deemed as a favor to the team since he could have explored more lucrative offers elsewhere. He is owed $13 million for the 2016 season and that number goes up by 2017.
Now it seems like the major hindrance for this trade deal to consummate is Phillips himself. The Reds looked like they have no convincing power to make him agree. As a result, the Nationals are left with no other choice but to look for other options out there, someone who can provide them stability at second base.
But it is important to know that Washington might never find someone as good and experienced as Phillips is, though they recently expressed interest in getting other big name free agents like Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward. The problem is both aren't excited in going to D.C.
