Jocketty: Reds are 'listening on everybody'
Club has reportedly discussed deal that could send Phillips to D-backs
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Reds are in rebuild mode and listening to offers on their players, reportedly including second baseman Brandon Phillips.
According to FOX Sports, the Reds and D-backs have discussed a possible deal that would send Phillips to Arizona in exchange for infielder Aaron Hill. The report stated that other players may be required to complete a deal.
A four-time Gold Glove Award winner, Phillips is signed through 2017. He is owed $13 million next year and $14 million in 2017. Hill, on the other hand, is owed $12 million in 2016 and will then be a free agent. Phillips, 34, batted .294 with 12 home runs, 19 doubles and 70 RBIs over 148 games last season, while Hill, 33, hit .230 with 18 doubles and six homers over 116 games, splitting time at second and third.
If Phillips, who has a no-trade clause, did depart, the Reds could slide Eugenio Suarez, 24, to second with Zack Cozart, 30, at shortstop.
Phillips isn't the only Reds player drawing interest. Teams also are asking about closer Aroldis Chapman, who will be a free agent after the 2016 season. Among those believed to be interested are the Red Sox.
• Should Reds deal Chapman this offseason?
Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty would only say Wednesday that he has been active in talks with teams regarding any and all players on the roster as they begin what will hopefully be a quick rebuild.
Jocketty would not reveal which teams he and general manager Dick Williams have met with during the General Managers Meetings, but the two haven't had any time to sit poolside.
"We're listening on everybody and there's been interest in certain players," Jocketty said Wednesday. "I'm not going to identify who. We're willing to listen, and I think we have to in our situation. We're not going to trade guys just for the purpose of trading them. We have to make sure we get the right value to build this team into a contending club for the next couple years."
Video: Castrovince analyzes the Reds' offseason needs
What are the Reds looking for?
"Basically, we tell clubs we're looking for players who are either Major League ready now, zero to three-year type players, or guys who could play at Triple-A, maybe Double-A who will be ready in '17 and '18," Jocketty said. "We're not looking for guys necessarily that are way [lower in an organization]. We have a lot of guys like that now. We may end up getting some guys like that, but the focus will be on guys who are closer to being ready."
Jocketty is hopeful the Reds' rebuild will not take as long as the Cubs, who had five losing seasons before returning to the postseason this year.