Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips used his veto rights to turn down a pair of trades this offseason, balking at deals that would have sent him to the Nationals and the Diamondbacks.
All of which means, despite the presence of second baseman of the future Jose Peraza, the Reds will continue to start Phillips at second base this season. Or as manager Bryan Price told C. Trent Rosencrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer:
It looks like Brandon is with us. Brandon, for me, is a second baseman of tremendous value and talent, it’s hard to just assign someone else that job. If Brandon’s with us, I expect him to be playing second base.
Phillips is under control for 2016 and 2017, so something has to give at some point before then if the Reds truly believe Peraza is their long-term answer at second base.
Rosencrans notes that Phillips was actually willing to accept both trades proposed to him, but wanted more money to agree to join the Nationals or the Diamondbacks. And general manager Walt Jocketty says the chances of another Phillips trade happening are “remote” at this point.
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