Brandon Phillips A Yankee?

Another day another Brandon Phillips trade rumor to get Reds fans talking. This time the rumor mill doesn’t start in Atlanta instead it

Sep 28, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) in the dugout during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

is coming out of the Bronx as the Yankees have expressed interest in the Reds second baseman.

The interest from the Yankees comes at no surprise to anyone. Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano is considered the biggest name on the free agent market,  if the Yankees were to lose Cano they need a back up plan. That is where Brandon Phillips and the Reds come into play at.

Phillips is arguably the best defensive second baseman in baseball, his offensive slipped in the 2013 season. The Yankees will need to replace Cano with a player of nearly the same qualities. Cano has a better bat than Phillips, but where Phillips lacks on offense he makes up on defense. Something that has obviously impressed the Yankees.

When the Reds put Phillips on the proverbial trading block they did so knowing there were not many teams that could afford him. Phillips is owed $11M next season and $50M over the next 4 seasons. A contract like that puts the Reds in a bind finically and limits the number of teams that can afford Phillips.

New York will spend the money, the question is what are they going to give the Reds in return. The Yankees don’t have the best farm system so who do they send? An outfielder would be nice, and pitchers are always a plus.

For the time being though it appears the Yankees are just putting out feelers in case Cano leaves. But the Phillips drama continues for the time being.