Loading ...Reds have acquired Brandon Phillips from the Indians for a PTBNL. Phillips was out of options.
Phillips is expected to report to Cincinnati in time for Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, which will require some move on the 25 man roster.
To make room on the 40 man roster, they designated Matt Kata for assignment.
Hurrah – another marginal second baseman! How many do we need? It was funny at first, then it was confusing, then it was dismaying, now it’s back to being funny because it’s so ridiculous.
Obviously Krivsky isn’t impressed with Ryan Freel and is looking for anything to replace him.
I don’t mind having Brandon Phillips around on the bench. He’s useful. I just don’t see why Krivsky thinks he needs so many 2B.
The other shoe has to drop. If this doesn’t lead to a deal involving Womack or Aurilia soon, I don’t know what the heck is going on. I just hope Freel doesn’t go anywhere.
What part of him do you think will be useful, Chad? The .246 career OBP or the .310 SLG? Or the mentality that won’t accept a bench job? This move can only be described as “Bowdonesque.”
How about “Bowderrific”? Or Bowdenbastic”? Seriously, Philips has always been regarded as extraordinary in the field, and he’s still young. After three or four years of declining numbers at AAA and awful performance in the majors, however, it looks like he’ll never hit.
It’s beyond silly to get so upset over aquiring a former top prospect for the price of essentially nothing. The worst that could happen is that he’s no better than Matt Kata and the Reds have lost nothing on a guy who could just easily be one of those “change of scenery” surprises.
What part of him do you think will be useful, Chad? The .246 career OBP or the .310 SLG? Or the mentality that won’t accept a bench job? This move can only be described as “Bowdonesque.”
Comment by Chris — 4/8/2006 @ 4:16 am
I don’t know if Phillips will blossom in Cincy or not, but he has had fewer chances so far in his career than Felipe Lopez had (at the same age) — and Phillips is a better fielder than Lopez (by far).
If Phillips develops into something great. If he doesn’t — nothing ventured, nothing lost.
I don’t have anything against Phillips as a player, its just the position he plays. Just a thought here. Maybe the Reds should look at passing on infielders and concentrating on some relief pitchers. This bullpen’s giving me a heart attack and we’re not even one week into this season!
Doesn’t Phillips seem like the second coming of Pokey Reese?
Except that Phillips has a track record of hitting in the minors. I’m with Bill H on this one. Phillips is an upgrade over Kata on the 40-man and still has some upside in the majors.
See, that’s where I disagree, and think that Phillips is a much different story than Lopez. He is a better defender, but so are Olmedo and Bergolla. Phillips hasn’t hit at any level in 4 years. His last respectable year was at AA in 2002.