The Reds offered Brandon Phillips a five-year, $60MM contract extension for the 2012-16 seasons, Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio reports (Twitter link). One Reds source believes Phillips would sign if the Reds offer a sixth guaranteed season.
The Reds were already in serious discussions with Phillips when the club got sidetracked by the Joey Votto deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. Cincinnati GM Walt Jocketty said yesterday that he’s optimistic about working out an extension with his second baseman within a week. Bowden heard last night that the Reds had offered Phillips a five-year deal in the $62.5-65MM range.
TophersReds
That’s actually more manageable than I expected. Sure, 4 years is preferred, but $12m per year isn’t bad at all. Hopefully they can convince him 5 years is plenty.
go_jays_go
The Reds could just give Phillips a 5yr/$60m contract with a club option for a 6th year, without the intention of actually exercising the option.
That might work for the Reds.
TophersReds
He wants a 6th year guranteed though, which means an option doesn’t really count in his books.
Joel Clark
Let’s get this done please!
Ethanator99
NO on the 6th year. NONONONO
Jay
What if its a team option?
Ethanator99
That’s fine. I just don’t want to be committing years to a 2nd baseman who will be who would be 37 at the time of the deal. I’m honestly not to keen on the 5th year either
monroe_says
While we’re at it, I’m not particularly happy with the 4th year.
BitLocker
Hmm, if the Reds can keep both Votto at 10 years for 225M and Phillips then why couldn’t the Brewers sign Fielder?
TophersReds
Brewers pitching is better and more expensive right now than the Reds’ pitchers.
docbot
So is their outfield.
Freddie Chetti-Diesel Dillon
Just because of Braun, I wouldn’t say they are that much better of players, Braun is the best OF on both teams, but Jay Bruce isn’t bad either.
docbot
Sorry I should have clarified…I meant expensive. I doubt Braun will be so good with clean urine.
Layne Sharp
more expensive yes
Better NO
TophersReds
I’m a Reds fan (obviously), and I would take Greinke, Gallardo, etc… over our staff, other than Cueto and Latos. Brewers have basically a complete staff, we got a good 1-2 put there is a dropoff after that.
Joel Clark
What about mike leake
TophersReds
He’s getting better, but he’s no more than a 3 or 4 right now. Brewers rotation is better, and I’m not oblivious to that. It just is, and I’m sure many people would agreee (at least based on past numbers from the pitchers on both teams. One day the Reds pitchers could be better, but not on this very day in my opinion).
Jay
Find it annoying that Leake our 2nd best pitcher last season for starting is the 5th starter. Not really sold on Bailey at all in my opinion I feel the Rotation should be this.
Cueto
Latos
Leake
Arroyo
Bailey
Now there is the argument that Leake and Arroyo are too much the same pitching style to be back to back. But honestly I am ok with them being in this order. Going to be interesting to see what happens when Masset comes back and Bray is put into harder stress innings as Baker put it recently he is not ready to put Bray back in those situations.
Arroyo is owed to much money so no one will take him but I have always wondered if someone would take a shot at Bailey allowing us to put Chapman or heck maybe even Francis if he does well in AAA at the back of the rotation.
melonis_rex
Fielder’s not as good as Votto and the body concerns are pretty significant with Fielder—in other words, it would be a bigger risk for the Brewers than Votto is for the Reds.
chico65
Expect the Reds to be visited by the secret service soon.
Giraffe Monsoon
I think the Reds should extend Brandon Phillips in the literal sense. Put him in one of those medieval ‘rack’ things and turn the crank until he gets taller.
Tall is right. Be tall.
Dusty L. Day
He earns it. The human highlight reel. Yes 6 years is risky but why not he seem to get better with age. Plus he is a great rep for Cincy. Finally our players have class and so do our GM and Owners as well. Sure we had great guys in the past, Larkin, E. Davis and Sabo. Remember the Rose and Schott crap we had to deal with. I mean Marge would say the N word and even made a Hitler reference once she had to apologize for. Heck thanks to the reds Rollie Fingers bounced cause he loved his handlebar ‘stach. So yes sign BP, so what if he’s no good in say 5 or 6 years. Move him to Outfield with the players we have and the best minor league system in the biz, we can get a decent replacement for him. I’m sure BP would be ok with it as we just wants to stay in Cincy.