The sound you hear is the log jam breaking. Not final yet, but dis is happening.
Reported terms: Reds getting two players in return. Reds pay most of Phillips 2017 salary. Phillips (35) will make $14 million this season; the final year of a six-year, $72.5 million contract. There may be a connection between how much money the Reds send to Atlanta and how good the prospects are in return. [update: never mind]
Source tells me deal to send Phillips to ATL about done. #reds getting 2 players back. MLB must approve $$ in deal. CIN eating most of it
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) February 12, 2017
Phillips passed physical, gets no-trade protection. I’ve always suspected Phillips’ desire to control where he plays (which he has earned) slowed down the trade talks last year. Phillips didn’t want to go somewhere else only to be traded again from that club. The 10-5 no-trade protection he has with the Reds doesn’t follow him to the next stop. Now, according to this report, he has that assurance from Atlanta.
According to club sources Phillips passed physical. He also gets no-trade protection from #Braves and assignment… https://t.co/J2AK887E7p
— Jim Bowden🌟🎤 (@JimBowdenGM) February 12, 2017
Atlanta’s MLB.com beat writer Mark Bowman uses phrase “nearly all” to describe how much of Phillips’ salary the Reds will pay.
The Braves are attempting to finalize a deal to acquire Brandon Phillips for two Minor Leaguers. CIN would pay nearly all of Phillips' $14M
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 12, 2017
Reds eating $13 million of $14 million.
That $1 million DOES NOT include the assignment bonus Phillips gets from the Braves. So, Reds eat $13 million. https://t.co/X67gnK1Isz
— Zach Buchanan (@ZachENQ) February 12, 2017
Heh.
Multiple baseball sources: Reds to receive 27-year-old LHP Andrew McKirahan and 29-year-old RHP Carlos Portuondo.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZachENQ) February 12, 2017
Player pages for Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portuondo. Jim Bowden just characterized this return as “practically nothing” on his MLB Radio show, said that’s how both front offices described it.
Mark Bowman characterizes the minor league players going to Cincinnati this way:
Neither of the two Minor Leaguers involved in the deal have ever been considered highly-regarded prospects within the Braves’ system.
The major Atlanta newspaper is the Journal Constitution. Here’s how their Braves beat writer David O’Brien characterizes the trade.
#Braves not giving up much in deal, #Reds want to get rid of Phillips and he agreed finally to waive no-trade provision and accept deal.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienAJC) February 12, 2017
Trade is done, just getting league sign-off since transfer of cash-money is involved.
The Braves and Reds have finished the agreement on the Brandon Phillips deal. Just checking boxes now before the announcement.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 12, 2017
Phillips tweeted this late last night:
What a day lol! #BackInDaTrap #ATLien
— Brandon Phillips (@DatDudeBP) February 12, 2017
Wayne Krivsky acquired 24-year-old Brandon Phillips from Cleveland for a PTBNL on April 7, 2006. The Reds sent pitcher Jeff Stevens a couple months later to complete the deal. Phillips would become the fourth-best second baseman in Reds history.
(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
Phillips graduated from Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, about  30 miles from Atlanta’s new ballpark, scheduled to open this spring.