ANAHEIM, CA - The Angels today acquired three-time All-Star and four time Gold Glove Award winner, Brandon Phillips and cash considerations from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league catcher Tony Sanchez. To make room for Phillips on the 40-man roster, the Angels have transferred RHP Andrew Bailey to the 60-day disabled list. Today's announcements were made by Angels General Manager Billy Eppler.
Phillips, 36, entered his 16^th MLB campaign in 2017 with the Braves. He appeared in 120 games with Atlanta, batting .291 (137/470), with 27 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 52 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Yesterday, he recorded his 2,000^th career hit in Atlanta's first game of a doubleheader at Philadelphia to become the fifth player in Major League history whose primary position is second base to collect at least 2,000 hits, 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, joining Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Joe Morgan and Ryne Sandberg.
A native of Raleigh, NC, Phillips joins his fourth MLB team in the Angels. He has appeared in 1,869 games in the big leagues with Cleveland (2002-05), Cincinnati (2006-16) and Atlanta (2017). Phillips has compiled a career average of .276 (2000/7253), with 988 runs, 361 doubles, 35 triples, 208 HRs, 941 RBI and 208 stolen bases. The veteran has batted .283 with an average of 29 doubles, 14 HRs and 70 RBI per season since his first All-Star selection in 2010.
Sanchez, 29, signed with the Angels as a minor league free agent on Nov. 22, 2016 and has spent the entire 2017 season with Triple-A Salt Lake. In 70 games for the Bees, he batted .272 (66/243) with 13 doubles, four home runs and 40 RBI. The former first round selection (fourth overall) in 2009 by the Pirates, has played parts of three Major League seasons (2013-15) with Pittsburgh, batting .259 (37/143) with five doubles, four homers and 18 RBI in 51 total games for the Pirates.