The Nationals are moving on to other targets after their proposed trade for Brandon Phillips reportedly fell through.
Washington had an agreement with the Cincinnati Reds for a Phillips trade, but the second baseman had to waive his no-trade clause for the deal to happen.
According to CBS Sports’s Jon Heyman, Phillips wanted a contract extension from Washington before approving the deal. The Nationals weren’t willing to oblige him, as he is already owed $27 million over the next two seasons, and one could very easily argue that’s an overpay to begin with.
Heyman notes that the deal isn’t completely dead, as the two teams could come back to each other or Phillips could have a change of heart, but at the moment, Washington is looking elsewhere.
Assuming nothing changes, Phillips may well head back into an awkward situation. Much as he loves Cincinnati, the Reds are probably going to be bad for the remainder of his deal and they just acquired Phillips’s presumed heir apparent, Jose Peraza, in the Todd Frazier trade. Cincinnati has an interesting decision to make now. Meanwhile, it’s hard to blame Washington for refusing to pony up more money for a 34-year-old middle infielder who’s already due $27 million, particularly when the team has some big free agent decisions to come.
