The Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals have agreed in principle to a trade that will send second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Nats for multiple minor league players, pending Phillips waiving his no-trade clause, sources told ESPN.
Phillips has not approved the trade yet and is not expected to until the Reds work out fair compensation for him to waive his 10-and-5 rights. Because Phillips, a 14-year major league veteran, has 10 or more years in the majors, including at least five with the same team, he has the right to reject any proposed trade.
On Thursday night, he hinted that he had accepted that he will go to Washington, tweeting that he was going from the 513 (Cincinnati area code) to the 202 (Washington).
When Phillips signed a $72.5 million, six-year contract with Cincinnati in 2012, it was considered a hometown discount because he had no trade protection, he bought a home in Cincinnati and has been heavily involved in the community.
Phillips, 34, is scheduled to make $13 million in the coming season and $14 million in 2017.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker has been hoping for a reunion with Phillips, whom he managed in Cincinnati from 2008 to 2013. Baker was fired after the 2013 season. He was hired by the Nationals earlier this offseason.
Last season, Phillips appeared in 148 games for the Reds, posting a .294 batting average, 12 home runs, a .723 OPS and 23 stolen bases in 26 attempts.
