RADIO
The Cincinnati Reds are looking to move both Aroldis Chapman, Brandon Phillips, Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce before the start of the 2016 season, according to BaseballEssential.com.
The shutdown closer and second baseman are more likely to go than the others but there's a chance that all four players are gone before Spring Training. The Reds are continuing to rebuild and might sell a few of these players in order to rebuild the farm system.
Chapman will receive plenty of suitors because there’s not many closers as dominant as he’s been throughout his six-year career. The power-pitcher has made four straight All-Star teams and has racked up 146 saves with 546 strikeouts in only 319 innings pitched. The 27-year-old is up for arbitration again this upcoming season and could very well cash in with a long-term deal wherever he goes or have one year of a nice deal. The Yankees, Astros and Diamondbacks were among the teams that attempted to land Chapman at the trade deadline. The Reds held onto him but that might not be for much longer.
Phillips is 34 and owed $27 million through 2017, which means the Reds would likely have to eat some of that hefty contract if they want to move him. The 14-year veteran had a solid .294 BA with 12 HR and 70 RBI on a bad team this year. If Cincy pays part of the contract, there would be plenty of teams in need of a second baseman that can deliver on the offense as well as bring solid defense.
Frazier was the hero of the Home Run Derby when he won it in dramatic fashion in Cincy this past summer. The 29-year-old made his second straight All-Star team and finished the 2015 season with 35 HR and 89 RBI. The third baseman is owed $7.5 million next season. There’s plenty of teams that would take on Frazier’s contract and ability to play quality defense on top of what was a breakout season with power.
Bruce was nearly traded at the deadline to the Mets but the trade fizzled out. The 28-year-old only had a .228 BA but still has some power with 26 HR and 87 RBI in 2015. The outfielder can still produce although he’s owed $25.5 million over the next two seasons. In the right lineup, Bruce can fit right in. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s gone by the time the winter meetings start.
