Fansided

The Braves need to pull the trigger on a Phillips deal

By Jake Misener

Sep 21, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) makes a bare-handed grab on a ball up the middle against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) makes a bare-handed grab on a ball up the middle against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 2, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla (26) against the New York Mets during the 8th inning at Turner Field. The Braves won 13-5. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla (26) against the New York Mets during the 8th inning at Turner Field. The Braves won 13-5. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports /

According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Braves could be one of the teams interested in Cincinnati Reds’ second baseman Brandon Phillips.

Yesterday, we reported that the Reds are intending to trade Phillips during the offseason after another abrupt exit from the postseason in the National League Wild Card game against Pittsburgh. However, the deal is a bit of a head-scratcher, and would require an inherent risk on the part of Cincinnati general manager Walt Jocketty.

Earlier today, FanSided writer Bryan Rose reported the details of such a deal, some of which are elaborated upon below. In my opinion, for Atlanta, this deal is a must-have.

O’Brien states that in order to for such a deal to work, Cincinnati would have to be open to taking second baseman Dan Uggla, who was left off the Braves’ postseason roster after an abysmal 2013 campaign, hitting just .179 for Atlanta with 22 home runs and 55 runs batted in.

For his career, Uggla is just a .246 hitter, a number that has declined every season since 2010 – a troubling sign for both Uggla and Atlanta, as he still has two more years left on his five year, $62 million deal that runs through the 2015 season.

On the other hand, Phillips had a “down” year according to many in the baseball industry, but still hit .261 and drove in over 100 runs. That’s a pretty good down year – especially if you’re the Atlanta Braves.

With the young nucleus of Jason Heyward, the Upton brothers and slugging first baseman Freddie Freeman, adding a potent bat and the three-time Gold Glove winner Phillips would be enough to take a team that had a sporadic offense and struck out… a lot, and push it to the next level.

Phillips is a fierce competitor, and adding a player with his fire would help keep the team focused as they chase Atlanta’s first World Series since 1995.

Get ready, Atlanta. Dat Dude BP could be coming soon.

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