While a deal involving Brandon Phillips between the Reds and Nationals appears unlikely, it is not officially dead, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. Â As of right now, both teams will wait and see if Phillips changes his mind and consents to the deal, but Washington could wind up taking care of its second base situation differently in the interim.
The two sides appeared to have a deal worked out last week, but Phillips reportedly wanted an extension as a condition of his approval of the trade.  Since he’s already owed $27MM over the next two seasons, the Nats weren’t eager to meet those demands.  As a player with 10-and-5 rights, the ball is in Phillips’ court on that matter.
Here’s more out of the Central divisions:
- The Pirates are still searching for a left-handed hitter to complement Mike Morse at first base, GM Neal Huntington told MLB Network (Twitter link via Adam Berry of MLB.com). Â Last week, the Bucs acquired corner infielder/outfielder Jason Rogers, a player who could conceivably give them additional first base depth, but they’re apparently still looking for an impact option that can hit from the other side of the plate. Â In 2015, Morse hit .231/.313/.336 with five homers in 256 plate appearances for the Marlins and Pirates.
- The Tigers, meanwhile, are probably done shopping, as Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press writes. Â On Saturday, the Tigers signed Mike Aviles to a one-year deal reportedly worth $2MM plus incentives. Â That pact could wind up being the last big league roster move Detroit makes this offseason. Â The Tigers set out to bolster their pitching and they have already accomplished that. Â Many wondered if they would make an impact move in left field, but it appears that they will roll with a mix of Anthony Gose, Cameron Maybin, Tyler Collins, and Aviles at the position.
- Over the weekend, it was reported that the Royals might be more interested in free agent hurler Wei-Yin Chen than other available options such as Yovani Gallardo and Scott Kazmir.
Cardinals?… [crickets…]
And they’ll still win 96 games somehow. Because somebody has a break out, unexpected season. Like every other season. This coming from a Cubs fan.
My bet is it will be Piscotty this year.
Garcia^
For the record, the Free Press article doesn’t really say the Tigers are done. The author notes the team “appears” to be done shopping, but that sounds a lot like the reporter’s guess than any inside information.
I still have Cespedes (back) to the Tigers, and I’m not giving up that easy.
We all can have hope. But, unless Cespedes falls to a 5/$85-90MM level he is not worth the 3-4x salary they have in Maybin/Collins/ Aviles . It seems that as of now the choice would be to extend J.D. or try and sign Cespedes if he falls to that level.
No way he falls that far in the money. ……if he falls below 6/120, there will be several suitors at that price.
I agree, but the Tigers would have an excellent chance since they have a very positive history with each other.
I am still hoping for a Denard Span signing. The Tigers need a leadoff hitter much more than another middle of the order bat.
I agree with you seam…I will be unhappy with nothing less than a major league LFer, not some hybrid of bits and pieces stretched over 3 players! C’mon Al, open up the checkbook and make one out to Mr. Cespedes already!!
I agree it does look like a complicated platoon combo. My guess is that Collins is still the 4th outfielder. Against RHP it will be Maybin, Gose, J.D. in L/C/R.Unless Maybin out plays Gose in ST and they switch. Against LHP it will be Aviles, Maybin, and J.D. Collins gets 50+ starts and will be a LH bench bat.
I also agree it is odd that Detroit did not go after a solid leadoff man like Aoki, Revere, Span(when he proves he is healthy),etc. They needed a LHB to balance the lineup and a leadoff guy would be cheaper than a power guy. Maybin hit RHP better last year than LHP so that seems to be the compromise.
C’mon PIT, make ATL an offer on Freeman they can’t refuse. Even you can afford his contract.
guy isn’t worth 20 million a year which is what the braves are going to be paying him from 17 thru 2021.
Freeman 276 avg 18 homers 66 rbi in a line up with out any protection! And only 26.. Put him in a line up with decent hitters around him… Ya he’s worth the money.
In today’s market, freeman is worth 20m a year.
I’d say today’s market is where it is because people like Freeman are overpaid…
They’re not getting Freeman from Atlanta.
They’re probably going to have to settle for Morneau. ……
A low budget team like Pittsburgh can’t afford to part with the prospects that Atlanta would want in return.
would it be crazy for the Pirates to take on Ryan Howard for one season until Josh Bell is ready, if the Phils ate say all but 3 or 4 million of this years deal and the buyout?
he’d work in a platoon, but put up slightly better numbers being a better lineup and the pirates have plenty of options to pinch run, pull him out for defense in late innings.
Sounds plausible enough. ….but he has 10 & 5 rights…..
Howard is the only first baseman worse then pedro last year. I don’t think the bucs will take him and his .223 Avg with 23 hr’s. He really isn’t worth much more then a D prospect.
part of reason for getting rid of Pedro was that he was arbitration eligible and would cost them some dollars- plus he’s a worse first baseman than Howard and pretty much the same hitter-
if you could spend half the money or less to get Howard and not have to trade for a first baseman or give probably more $ to a brittle Morneau with no power- that was the only reason it crossed my mind.
What about Ryan Howard to Pittsburgh? The cost would probably be $5-$7 million, with the Phillies taking up the other crazy amount he’s earning. I can’t see it taking more than a minor prospect or two. A Howard/Morse 1B platoon could be fun.
James Loney to the Pirates with the Rays eating some of his salary. Won’t cost much in prospects or salary.
I think Morneau is probably the best fit the buccos. They should have gone after adam lind though to be fair
uh.. seriously.. mike morse might have hit .236 between the teams last year but hit nearly equally well (bad?) against both left and right handed pitching.. just as he has done his whole career. I speculate that they’re looking for a left handed bat in general and if it is a first basemen all the better. then they can get rid of morse’s ~4-5million (dodgers paying the rest) and go with rogers who is horrible against lefties. Maybe they should call gaby Sanchez back? (sarcasm)
Morses short time in pittsburgh last year was pretty good. the previous few seasons have been plagued with injury and suspension as well.. hopefully in the black and gold he can make a recovery
I feel the Rogers trade is more of a uncertainty with Bell being able to fill the role at first in the MLB and is a cheap controllable replacement should that not work.
I wonder how Daniel Ortiz would do for the Pirates at 1b? Josmil Pinto also would be a nice addition as well to test out at 1b.
No just no. Pinto needs to retire. And Ortiz can’t hit if his life depended on it.
I never seen greed like Phillips Damm shame he prefer to stay with the maybe last place Reds than maybe a team he could finally get a ring with I will never cheer for him again I bet Boris must be a secret brother from another mother
The man has earned this right, be mad at the union. And be happy players are still willing to play for the club where they live even when that club sucks.
Yes, be happy players are still willing to play for the team that writes their paycheck…
I don’t get why Morneau is the “last option” for the Pirates, he’s not bad, definitely not terrible and is probably better than morse
Becuase of his injuries. Morneau isn’t bad but he is worthless when he is on the bench not in uniform cuase he gets hurt constantly. And with his concussion background the guy should retire and save his brain.
and he couldnt hit the ball out of Coors last year.
Pirates should take Adam Laroche off the White Sox hands MIGHT be a bounce back candidate and if the Sox eat a decent portion of the remainder plus he’s a free agent after next year I’d say why not
Adam laroche is 36 years old. He isn’t hitting anything like he did with the nats. He is probably gonna hit .220 at best and have at most 15 home runs as a full time starter.
If the rebuilding Reds could afford him, I’d like to see Span in center. Billy Hamiltin just can’t get on often enough. He dies exciting things when he dies,but it’s not often enough. Damn shame,because otherwise,he’s a talented young man. Glove and speed.
Would be nice if he had a break out year like Gordon did.