Report: Arizona Diamondbacks Talking Trade With Cincinnati Reds

According to reports, the Arizona Diamondbacks are discussing a deal with the Cincinnati Reds, that would see the teams swap second basemen.

The hot stove is warming up in Florida.

With the General Managers’ meetings in full swing in Florida, trade rumors have been flying around left and right about the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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One report from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, has the Arizona Diamondbacks discussing a trade with the Cincinnati Reds that would see the teams swap second basemen, with Aaron Hill going to the Reds and Brandon Phillips coming to the Diamondbacks.

According to Rosenthal, there are obstacles that the deal would have to cross through for such a transaction to be completed between the two organizations.

"A number of obstacles could prevent a Reds-Diamondbacks deal from happening, starting with the fact that Phillips has the right to veto any trade as a player with 10 years of major-league service, five with the same team.Securing his approval likely would be difficult; Phillips is comfortable in Cincinnati and one of the most popular Reds. Teams sometimes offer financial inducements such as contract extensions to persuade players to waive no-trade rights, but the D-backs might not want to do that for Phillips, who is 34."

The first obstacle is probably the biggest obstacle. Phillips has been a mainstay in the Reds’ lineup for years and has the right to strike down a trade to Arizona if he wants to. Phillips has never given any indication, that he wants to leave Cincinnati and that would make it more difficult for the Diamondbacks to land his services.

Another big thing that Rosenthal points out is Phillips’ age. At 34 years old, his best days are behind him and the Diamondbacks are a team with young infielders that they’re trying to get playing time for. Hill’s large contract has been proven difficult enough to move, and while moving it for Phillips might work, the Diamondbacks are suddenly in the same boat they are with Hill and that is not having the playing time for their younger infielders.

Still, there’s no denying that trading at this point, trading Aaron Hill for Brandon Phillips would be an upgrade for the Diamondbacks at second base. Last season he batted .294 for the Reds and had an OPS of .723, while Hill only batted .230 with an OPS of .640. Phillips was also a finalist for Gold Glove at second base.

At the same time, in a deal like this, the question is what are the Reds getting out of a deal like this? While Phillips is the better of the two players, he has a contract that will pay him $13 million in 2016 and $14 million in 2017. Aaron Hill is in the final year of his contract that will pay him $12 million this year. The Reds would be getting relief financially, but at the same time, would they want another young prospect in return? There’s just too many variables that go into a deal like this.

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It’s important to remember that during this time of the year, every team is talking to each other about almost every single player. It’s the deals that in the long run, that make the most sense that come to fruition.

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