Sources: Nationals moving to other options with Phillips deal unlikely
The Washington Nationals are moving on to other options after their attempts to acquire second baseman Brandon Phillips from the Cincinnati Reds stalled, FOX Sports Insider Ken Rosenthal reported Saturday.
Sources: #Nationals moving on from Phillips, pursuing other options. Kendrick could be one; a trade could be another. Murphy low priority.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 19, 2015
Always a chance that Phillips talks could revive, but for now it appears @DatDudeBP will not be getting traded from #Reds to #Nationals.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 19, 2015
Rosenthal reported Wednesday night that the teams apparently had a deal in place and were waiting for Phillips' approval (he has veto power as a player with 10 years in the majors and five consecutive years with the same team). That approval never came. Earlier this offseason, Rosenthal reported the Arizona Diamondbacks had interest in Phillips, but nothing ever developed there, either.
The move to the Nationals would have reunited Phillips with Dusty Baker, his former manager in Cincinnati and the new manager in Washington, D.C.
Phillips, 34, hit .294/.328/.395 with 12 homers, 23 stolen bases and 70 RBI this past season. During his 14-season major-league career, he is a .273/.320/.421 hitter with 186 homers, 184 stolen bases and 825 RBI. Phillips is a three-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner.
He is under contract through the 2017 season.
