Cincinnati Reds

Press Clippings

February 13, 2017

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1970-The National League office begins their move from Cincinnati to San Francisco

MLB.COM Reds deal Phillips to Braves for 2 pitchers

McKirahan, Portuondo acquired as veteran goes to hometown team after 11 seasons in Cincy

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | 6:36 PM ET + 670 COMMENTS

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Brandon Phillips' previous refusals to waive his no-trade rights both this winter and the previous one left

Reds general manager Dick Williams with little hope of moving the team's longtime second baseman. But it happened on Sunday,

when the Reds sent Phillips and cash to the Braves for two Minor League pitchers.

Because the Reds will be paying all but $1 million of Phillips' $14 million salary for 2017, the Commissioner's Office had to

approve the trade. Phillips, who gained his no-trade rights as a 10-and-5 player, waived them to clear the way for the Stone

Mountain, Ga., native to play for his hometown club.

Cincinnati received left-handed pitcher Andrew McKirahan and right-handed pitcher Carlos Portuondo.

"I think we all collectively thought this was the best move for the future of the organization," Williams said. "It's tough when you

say goodbye to a popular player like that, especially one that's been with you a long time, and his tenure has made such a connection

to the fans. We're not trying to win a popularity contest. We're just trying to do what we collectively feel is the best for the longer

term future of the organization."

The Braves became motivated to make the deal after learning infielder Sean Rodriguez is expected to be out three-to-five months

recovering from left shoulder surgery after he was injured in a car accident. Phillips blocked a trade to the Braves in November and

also declined trades last winter to the Nationals and D-backs.

The previous talks with Atlanta and the club's need to replace Rodriguez sped up the process this time.

"It went pretty quickly, just a couple of days," Williams said. "We had had some conversations with Brandon's representatives

recently where they had made it known to us that Brandon had sort of shifted his position on wanting to go somewhere."

The Reds' longest-tenured player, Phillips spent the last 11 seasons in Cincinnati, which included all three of his All-Star

campaigns. He hit .291/.320/.416 with 11 home runs, 64 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 141 games in 2016.

Acquired from the Indians in April 2006, Phillips was a three-time National League All-Star and won four NL Gold Glove Awards.

He also won a 2011 NL Silver Slugger Award. In recent seasons, the 35-year-old played through several hand or wrist injuries but

also provided diminishing returns offensively and defensively. Since peaking with an .816 OPS in 2007, he had a .723 OPS in 2015

and it was .736 in '16.

But there is no denying that Phillips was a key cornerstone -- along with Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto among others --

that helped Cincinnati reach the postseason three times from 2010-13. That included two NL Central titles.

Phillips was popular with fans because of dazzling defensive plays, a flashy style, his quick embrace of social media and his

willingness to take pictures and sign autographs.

"I think he did have a unique understanding of the value of connecting with fans, and you'll see an outpouring of love and support

for him now that he's leaving because people did feel like he connected with them," Williams said.

On the other hand, Phillips' occasionally mercurial personality also created friction. In 2010, comments to a reporter about the St.

Louis Cardinals sparked a bench-clearing incident the following day that involved catcher Yadier Molina. In 2012, Phillips told a

magazine that his new six-year, $72 million contract with the Reds was a "slap in the face" because he had to wait for Votto's mega-

contract to be completed first.

In 2013, Phillips was caught on camera verbally abusing a Reds beat writer.

Now it's time to turn the page. With Phillips leaving, the Reds have achieved one of their major offseason goals in trying to clear a

middle-infield spot. Both Jose Peraza and Dilson Herrera -- who was acquired from the Mets for Bruce in August -- will compete

for the job. Peraza, who batted .324 for the Reds last season, would appear to have the inside track. The team has also made efforts

this offseason to move shortstop Zack Cozart. Right now, Cozart, Peraza and Herrera are set to get the majority of playing time in

Spring Training.

"We've still got a plethora of young guys that we're excited to get a look at," Williams said. "You mentioned the three up the middle

that we're going to give at-bats to. We've got other guys as well. [Arismendy] Alcantara is going to get some time in the middle

infield. We've got some non-roster guys like Zach Vincej -- a Gold Glove winner in the Minor Leagues last year at shortstop. Some

other guys we'll give reps to -- Tony Renda we've seen play some middle infield."

Both Williams, and manager Bryan Price, had discussed with Phillips that the club would be looking to the future more this season.

It likely would have reduced his playing time.

"Those were good conversations between Brandon and myself. I know Bryan had some similar talks with him. That may have

factored into his thinking. I really can't speak for him," Williams said.

McKirahan, 27, has a 2.20 ERA in 96 Minor League games but missed all of 2016 recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left

elbow. He was originally in the Cubs' organization, followed by the Marlins as a Rule 5 Draft selection before ultimately being

claimed off waivers in April 2015 by Atlanta.

Portuondo, 29, was signed by the Braves in February 2016 as an international free agent from Cuba. He made 44 starts and 81 relief

appearances for Santiago in Cuba's Serie Nacional. He spent last season in the Minor Leagues, pitching for Atlanta's Class A

Advanced affiliate at Carolina and Triple-A Gwinnett.

Williams said he considers Portuondo, a control pitcher who's not overpowering, more as Minor League depth. He said with

McKirahan, a lefty who can get his fastball up to 94 mph, the organization is trying to "catch lightning in a bottle" as he comes off

the surgery.

Neither McKirahan nor Portuondo will be added to the 40-man roster or attend big league camp.

Fantasy spin | Fred Zinkie (@FredZinkieMLB)

Unlikely to experience a significant change in fantasy value as a result of this deal, the veteran Phillips remains a late-round mixed-

league option given his ability to contribute double-digit totals in homers and swipes. In the bigger picture, the three-time All-Star

will help lengthen a fairly formidable lineup with a handful of mixed-league assets -- such as Ender Inciarte, Freddie Freeman, Matt

Kemp and Dansby Swanson.

The trade's biggest fantasy winner appears to be former Atlanta farmhand Peraza, who will likely assume Cincy's newly vacant

second-base spot. After batting .324 with 21 steals across 256 plate appearances with the Reds last season, the 22-year-old speedster

should be taken near the 100th pick in 2017 mixed-league drafts.

Reds hope young arms progress in spring

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | 6:52 PM ET + 0 COMMENTS

With Spring Training fast approaching, MLB.com will take a look at a different aspect of this year's Reds squad each day

this week. Today's topic: Spring Training is here.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Even if they are not viewed as potential contenders for 2017, the Reds would be very pleased to move out of

the rebuilding phase and become a team that is more competitive for the upcoming season.

Loaded with young talent once again, Cincinnati hopes to set that tone beginning on Monday. That's when its pitchers and catchers

report to open Spring Training, with their first workout slated for Tuesday, after the completion of physicals.

Following a pair of last-place finishes in the National League Central -- both seasons with the second-worst record in the Majors --

the Reds have little place to go but up. But they also felt like 2016 was a step forward. A disastrous first half of the season filled

with injuries and blowout losses gave way to a team that finished one game under .500 at 36-37 after the All-Star break.

Sunday's trade of veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Braves for two Minor League pitchers -- Carlos Portuondo and

Andrew McKirahan -- who are not considered to be highly ranked prospects, showed that the rebuild is still a work in progress. But

it was a much-needed move to help Cincinnati get to see its future possibilities now. That means more playing time up the middle

for young infielders Jose Peraza, and perhaps Dilson Herrera.

Reds general manager Dick Williams, manager Bryan Price and the rest of the club hope the strong second half can be the building

block to bigger and better things. Efforts were made to shore up the team's biggest weakness -- pitching -- with some modest

investment in a pair of free agents and a competition featuring several top prospects for openings in the rotation and bullpen.

Otherwise, the hope and expectation is that younger players that featured in 2016 -- like Peraza and pitchers Robert Stephenson and

Cody Reed -- continue to grow and feel like they belong in the Major Leagues.

Here is a glance at the Spring Training picture for the Reds as camp opens:

Pitchers and catchers report: Monday

Position players report: Thursday

First Cactus League game: Away vs. the Giants on Feb. 24 at 3:05 p.m. ET

New faces: Former closer and free agent Drew Storen was signed to a one-year deal worth $3 million, plus incentives, for a chance

to rebuild his resume after he struggled in the second half of 2015 and most of '16. Storen will be part of a multi-pitcher approach to

the late innings that Price hopes to employ. Once Williams traded Dan Straily to the Marlins for three prospects, he turned around

and signed veteran free agent Scott Feldman to a one-year contract worth $2.3 million to provide innings on a young staff. Waiver

claim Arismendy Alcantara will compete for a bench role, while former Dodgers pitcher Louis Coleman -- also a non-roster invitee

-- will compete for a spot in the bullpen, as will Austin Brice, who was acquired in the Straily trade.

Interesting non-roster invitees: One new face that is also a familiar one to Reds fans, starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo, will attempt a

comeback after being out for two years with arm injuries. Arroyo previously pitched for Cincinnati from 2006-13. Desmond

Jennings was signed Thursday to a Minor League deal and can earn $1.5 million if he makes the club as a right-handed-hitting

outfielder off the bench.

Prospects to watch: This won't be the first big league camp for left-hander and No. 2 prospect Amir Garrett, but it will be a pivotal

one. Garrett, 24, has an excellent chance at earning one of the two rotation vacancies. Right-hander Sal Romano will compete for

the rotation and bullpen. Reed and Stephenson will also be back to fight for a spot in the rotation following difficult rookie

campaigns. Outfielder Jesse Winker, the club's No. 3 prospect, is hoping to show that he can make the big leagues for the first time.

Pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez, who was signed out of Cuba last summer, is the Reds' No. 5 prospect and will be at his first Spring

Training as a non-roster invitee.

Questions left to answer on Reds' 25-man roster

Rotation, bullpen and bench have open spots to fill before Opening Day

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | February 12th, 2017 + 45 COMMENTS

Editor's note: With Spring Training fast approaching, MLB.com will take a look at a different aspect of this year's Reds squad each

day this week. Today's topic - Predicting the 25-man roster. This is an updated version of a previously published story that reflects

that Brandon Phillips was traded to the Braves on Sunday.

CINCINNATI -- Every Spring Training, Reds manager Bryan Price keeps his entire camp roster written out on a dry-erase board

next to the desk in his office. As the days go on, the names on the board gradually become fewer and fewer.

And no matter what circumstances arise between the start and end of camp, the one steadfast fact is that the Reds will have exactly

25 players at Price's disposal come Opening Day vs. the Phillies.

How the Reds arrive at that conclusion is part of the annual intrigue of Spring Training. There are openings in the rotation, bullpen,

bench and middle infield. One big conundrum of how to create playing time up the middle was partially solved Sunday when

Phillips was traded to Atlanta for two Minor League pitchers. That leaves shortstop Zack Cozart, Jose Peraza and Dilson Herrera to

get the bulk of the playing time.

"I could see a nice combination of those three playing up the middle," Reds general manager Dick Williams said on Sunday. "There

should be plenty of at-bats to go around in Spring Training. This trade does free up some opportunities for these guys, and we hope

they'll take advantage of it."

Here is a breakdown of the Reds' projected Opening Day roster:

Catchers: Devin Mesoraco, Tucker Barnhart

The big X-factor here is the health of Mesoraco, who has been limited to 18 games behind the plate the last two seasons. He's had a

major surgery on each hip and one on his left shoulder in that span. If he shows he is ready, Mesoraco and Barnhart would likely

split the role in some tandem form. If Mesoraco has a setback, Barnhart would be the regular catcher and either Rule 5 selection

Stuart Turner or someone else gets a chance.

First base: Joey Votto

This is rock solid, especially with Votto having seven years and $179 million left on his contract. The 33-year-old is coming off two

strong seasons that garnered MVP votes.

Second base: Peraza

With Phillips out, this creates a golden opportunity for Peraza to establish himself as an everyday player. Set to turn 23 on April 30,

Peraza batted .324 with a .352 on-base percentage over 72 games (56 starts) last season. His primary position is shortstop, but he

can play second base, left field and center field. If Peraza doesn't start, the job could go to Herrera, who was acquired from the Mets

for Jay Bruce on Aug. 1. It's also possible perhaps to find a way for both players to get regular playing time in a rotation with Cozart

at shortstop.

Shortstop: Cozart

Because of there being little demand for shortstops this offseason, the Reds were also unsuccessful at dealing Cozart, who can also

be a free agent after 2017. But they will certainly enjoying using him while he's at their disposal. Following a devastating right knee

injury that required reconstructive surgery in June 2015, he bounced back well in '16. In 121 games, he batted .252/.308/.425 with a

career-high 16 home runs. He did not play a game after Sept. 10 because of tendinitis in the same knee, but he is expected to be 100

percent when Spring Training opens.

Third base: Eugenio Suarez

After moving over from shortstop, Suarez had a learning curve to overcome, and it showed as he committed 12 errors in his first 53

games. He led Major League third basemen with 23 errors but showed improvement as the season progressed. Offensively, Suarez

was streaky, but he showed plenty of pop with 21 home runs.

Starting outfield: Adam Duvall, Billy Hamilton, Scott Schebler

In left field, Duvall is coming off a breakout year where he hit 33 homers with 103 RBIs and made his first All-Star team. After a

slow start last season, Hamilton became the type of leadoff hitter he was expected to be, batting .293 with a .369 on-base percentage

and 36 steals in 45 games after the All-Star break. His durability is a question, though, as a strained oblique caused him to miss the

final month, the third straight season he finished with an injury. Defensively, his speed and ability make him one of the best center

fielders in baseball. Schebler batted .290 with eight homers following his Aug. 2 recall from Triple-A Louisville, while showing an

improved arm. He has the inside track to be the regular right fielder.

Bench: Herrera, Arismendy Alcantara, Desmond Jennings, Hernan Iribarren

The one drawback for Herrera is that he only plays second base. There would need to be enough at-bats available for him to stay in

the big leagues. Otherwise, he would start at Louisville. Jennings can play all three outfield spots, and Alcantara can play the

outfield and infield. Iribarren is not a prospect at 32, but he was the International League batting champion in 2016, and he hit .311

in 24 games as a September callup. He can also play multiple positions.

Rotation: Anthony DeSclafani, Brandon Finnegan, Scott Feldman, Cody Reed, Robert Stephenson

The group is already one man down with oft-injured Homer Bailey having arthroscopic surgery this week to remove bone chips

from his right elbow. The rotation provided the least number of innings in the Majors last season after being riddled with injuries

and depth issues. DeSclafani should be steady and good for 200 innings, but there are less known quantities behind him. Finnegan

had trouble working deeper in games but is very competitive and capable of working 200 innings. Feldman was used mostly as a

reliever last season, but he has a track record as a starter and for throwing ground balls. Reed and Stephenson struggled last season,

but if they show up and "look like Major Leaguers" as Price said, should have the inside track over Amir Garrett and others.

Bullpen: Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen, Drew Storen, Tony Cingrani, Blake Wood, Sal Romano, Austin Brice

The bullpen can only improve from 2016 after it was prone to home runs, walks and disastrous outcomes. Price will try to be

innovative in how he uses his staff, hoping to have pitchers throw fewer games but multiple innings, especially on the back end.

Iglesias, Lorenzen, Storen and Cingrani could all wind up having turns to close and other high-leverage situations. Storen, signed

for a bargain at one year and $3 million, could turn his career around in Cincinnati after a couple of down years. Romano is a

rotation contender but the club is also looking at him for a bullpen role if he doesn't get to start.

Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on

Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball

or its clubs.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER In the Name of the Father

THE STORY BEHIND REDS' PITCHER MICHAEL LORENZEN'S FAMOUS HOME RUN.

Zach Buchanan , zbuchanan@enquirer.com

LA JOLLA, Calif. – The moment was so indelible, Michael Lorenzen will soon have a sculpture of it. On a recent Saturday in his

rented home just north of San Diego, he shared some photos of the work in progress, a gift from his wife’s uncle. The pose is

immediately recognizable to any Cincinnati Reds fan.

It's a statuette-sized Lorenzen, currently carved out of clay but destined for bronze. His bat and left arm are flying open behind his

shoulder, at the peak of his follow-through. He stares off into the distance toward right-center field, watching his first career home

run sail over the fence.

The emotions surrounding that August home run made it by far the most memorable event of the 2016 Reds season. The 25-year-old

reliever had been away from the team for several days, attending to his dying father before he eventually succumbed to a months-

long illness. This game was the pitcher's first since returning to the club. It was a cathartic moment for anyone who’s ever lost a

loved one.

But Clif Lorenzen wasn't just a dad to Michael. He was the dad who habitually lied and stole, a lifelong alcoholic whose booze-

fueled battles with Michael's mother caused plenty of rancor in their Anaheim, California, home. He was a man who ditched his

family when Michael was 12 in order to avoid arrest on grand theft and forgery charges.

Michael doesn't hate his father, despite the man's many failings. Michael had many of them himself before finding his faith,

enabling him to transcend the broken environment in which he was raised and embark on what looks to be a promising major-league

career.

He loved and forgave his dad, and told him so many times before his death. Michael also worried about his father, who never

sobered up and drank himself into an early grave.

He worries about him still.

An imperfect father

Michael Lorenzen was born Jan. 4, 1992, the youngest of Clif and Cheryl Lorenzen’s four sons. His childhood memories are mostly

happy. His father encouraged his love of baseball, but always gently. He was never the overbearing Little League parent.

Michael was his own taskmaster when it came to baseball, walking around the house squeezing a tennis ball to increase his arm

strength because someone told him that’s how Rafael Palmeiro did it. Clif derived joy from his son's dedication. He was a congenial

father, the one Michael went to when he wanted permission for something. His mother was the disciplinarian.

"Her nickname was 'Sarge' on the block," Michael said.

But things were not tranquil in their house on Elder Street in Anaheim. Both parents struggled with substance abuse issues,

especially alcohol. The story of their romance did not begin with a meet-cute. Clif sold Cheryl cocaine.

Michael remembers loud, raucous arguments between his parents, drunken fights that occasionally ended in wrestling matches and

visits from police.

He also remembers being told to take a nap on the way to his youth baseball games. Michael knew that was so his dad could drink

as he drove. Michael would comply and close his eyes, “but you’d always hear the bottle creak open.”

Pretending to sleep was not an uncommon avoidance tactic for Michael. He’d feign slumber often when his dad would come into his

room at night, usually to steal a couple bucks from his youngest son.

“I’d pretend like I had no idea what’s going on, just because he’s my dad,” he said. “How am I going to confront my dad? I love

him.”

Clif’s issues extended beyond the domestic realm. Warrants were issued for his arrest three times in the early 2000s, and he was

convicted of theft in 2002. The records from that case have been destroyed, including his sentencing information, but Michael

remembers his dad spending three months in jail at one point during his childhood.

Still, Michael had little reason at the time to believe his childhood was anything but normal. Plenty of families on his block had

similar issues. It was only when he stayed over at the houses of his travel ball teammates, many of whom hailed from upscale

Laguna Niguel, did it seem like anyone else lived differently. They all ate together as a family. There were leftovers.

“That was something that I really cherished,” he said. “You’d eat good food and the mom would cook us food because the mom

would be there.”

Michael was always motivated when it came to baseball, his passion energized when he was 8 when scouts came to watch his oldest

brother, Jonathan, play. Jonathan was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2000, and the entire Lorenzen family traveled to Great

Falls, Montana, to watch him play a year later.

But things changed in 2004 when Clif was charged with the two misdemeanor counts and skipped town. Michael remembers it

being Christmas Eve. Michael lost his biggest baseball cheerleader.

He also gained an independence that threatened his devotion to the game and his chances at a brighter future.

An imperfect son

Michael didn't know it at the time, but Clif Lorenzen had left for good. Many jurisdictions won't bother with extradition when it

comes to misdemeanors, so Clif moved to Nevada. Five months after his death, the warrant was still active.

Life without his dad didn't feel much different to Michael. If anything, it was quieter.

“My mom would kick him out of the house all the time,” he said. “He’d be gone, he’d been in jail. I’d already been kind of

conditioned to him not being there at times. When he left, there were no more cops showing up to the house every other weekend.”

With Clif out of the picture, Michael was afforded more freedom than the 12-year-old was equipped to handle. In order to make rent

every month, his mom took a job working nights in a restaurant at the Disneyland Resort. Michael knew he only had to be home by

the time his mother returned around one in the morning.

He exercised that freedom like many rebellious teenagers do. He skateboarded with friends, he drank, he smoked a lot of marijuana.

“Just being a punk, I guess,” Michael said. “Me and one of my friends across the street used to shoot kids walking home from

school with our BB gun from his roof and just laugh. Just little brat kid things like that. (That guy) is actually in jail now for

shooting someone. Those are like the type of people that we grew up with. It was normal to us.”

Michael doesn’t think his life would have veered off the tracks that badly, but he thinks he could have wandered adrift and wasted

his baseball potential, which is what happened to his oldest brother. Two years into his professional career, the Dodgers released

Jonathan Lorenzen, then 20, after he was arrested for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl in his dorm at the

team’s spring training complex in Vero Beach, Florida.

Jonathan and the girl both told police she’d led him to believe she was 18, according to the arrest affidavit. It didn't matter. He was

charged with lewd and lascivious battery of a minor but eventually pleaded down to the lesser offense of felony child abuse. He

entered a plea of nolo contendere and the case was not adjudicated – sparing him the label of convicted felon – but he was sentenced

to six months in county jail and 30 months of probation as part of his plea deal.

In 2005, Jonathan violated his probation after he stopped paying his court fees, with more than $500 still owed, to Indian River

County. There’s been an active warrant for his arrest in Florida the last 12 years, the same amount of time his dad lived as a fugitive.

Like with his father, it’s unlikely law enforcement will ever push for extradition.

That incident is in the past for Jonathan. He currently works as a contractor and is married with a daughter and stepdaughter, and his

wife is pregnant with twin girls due in March. But it derailed his baseball career and he never played again.

Michael never ran into legal trouble of his own growing up. But, in retrospect, the more he drank and smoked and shirked

responsibility, the more he saw his own shot at a baseball career also coming to an unfulfilling end.

“It’s something that was probably that was leading to something worse and worse and worse,” Michael said.

A purpose

The night when things changed for Michael wasn’t all that much different than any other night, except it was his high school's

homecoming. He was 17 and, after the dance, his friends and their dates had gone to Huntington Beach for some food. As the girls

headed in to eat, the guys wandered below a pier to smoke.

When they came back up, a man asked if he could talk to them about God. The group mockingly said yes, and proceeded to laugh

throughout the man’s testimony.

But Michael was silent. He’d generally believed in God, but this man was telling him that wasn’t enough. Michael's intoxicated

mind kept replaying scenes from the movie "The Passion of the Christ," which he’d watched in theaters earlier in the year. It was

the first time he’d given any thought to the sins he’d committed.

“It was the perfect time to be confronted,” he said.

Michael doesn’t remember much about the man who talked to him that night. He was an older white guy. He was wearing a raincoat

because it was a little chilly. He had a gentle nature about him and didn’t seem bothered by the fact that he was being ridiculed to

his face.

After the man left, the high schoolers went inside to eat. Michael didn’t bring up the revelatory moment to any of his friends. He

still partied and drank that night. But change was taking root.

That next week, he went to church with his brother, Matthew. It was the first time Michael says he seemed to understand the

sermon. He quit drinking and began studying his Bible, changes that raised eyebrows in his house and among his friends. His mom

and oldest brothers were skeptical, jumping on his occasional slip-ups as proof that he wasn’t sincere. Eventually, they were won

over by Michael’s consistency.

He began to view his athletic achievement through a different lens. If his talent for baseball was a God-given gift, it was his

Christian duty to maximize it in order to glorify God. The childhood dedication to his craft returned and Lorenzen earned a baseball

scholarship to Cal State Fullerton as a two-way player.

In 2013, the Reds selected him with the 38th overall pick in the draft and he made his major-league debut two years later.

Baseball achievement has followed him everywhere, but Michael is careful to avoid letting it change the type of person he is. He

often returns to one of a thousand notes scribbled in his Bible that reads: ‘My sport isn’t an idol.’

It's the megaphone. It's why he treats his body like a luxury car, giving it only the best fuel and carefully maintaining its parts. It's

why he's had only one soda since his junior year of high school – it was a Sprite – and why he's transitioning away from a

bodybuilder's physique. He's going for something a bit leaner so that his joints aren't carrying around too much extra weight.

Everything to make the most of his gift.

"I’m doing it to glorify Him," he said. "You should never do anything half-effort."

That's the Michael known to his wife Cassi, whom he met just more than a year ago and married this offseason. She's been familiar

with his life story since their first date when they bonded over their shared faith at a coffee shop after being set up by a mutual

friend.

But even now can be surprised by the dramatic juxtaposition between Old and New Michael.

“We call them his B.C. days," she said, "his Before Christ days.”

A departure

Michael got a call that his dad was sick in June, while he was working back from an elbow injury with Triple-A Louisville. At the

time, it didn't seem too serious. Clif's alcohol abuse was catching up to his body, but Michael was told his dad would be fine with

medication.

With a return to the majors just around the corner, Michael put off a visit. They'd reconciled long ago and Michael had flown Clif

out to watch him pitch on Father's Day a year prior. He got the win.

His dad never beat his alcohol issues, though, and Michael learned to accept Clif's faults. He forgave him for the years they'd gone

without seeing each other when he was growing up, forgave him for the occasional phone calls during which Clif would boast of his

sobriety, slurring every word.

“We used to tell him all the time, ‘No hard feelings. We all forgive you,’" Michael said, a small quiver evident in his voice. "We

understood the struggle.”

Michael wishes he could have told his dad that one more time, been able to spend just a few more minutes talking about what his

faith had done for him. But the next time he saw Clif, his dad was unconscious and hooked up to a ventilator in a Reno hospital.

Clif Lorenzen died on Aug. 17, just a week after his 61st birthday. His final moments remain a mystery to Michael. He hopes he'll

see him again, but he isn't sure.

One Sunday in January, Michael and Cassi attended church. The sermon concerned a subject that had been weighing on Michael

since his father's death. It was a biblical proof of the existence and nature of hell.

The pastor set out to prove his point with a rapid-fire review of the Bible, bouncing between the Old and New Testaments faster

than anyone could flip the pages to find them –Revelation to 2 Chronicles to Isaiah, then to Matthew, Jude and back to Revelation.

Each book offered some reference or description of eternal damnation.

Hell is real, the pastor insisted, and it’s terrible.

Michael isn't afraid of hell. He's certain that he will avoid it thanks to his faith. But he grapples with the uncertainty of his father's

fate.

"If I knew he was spending eternity in heaven, it wouldn’t be as tough," he said, occasionally dabbing at tears forming in the corner

of his eyes. "It really wouldn’t. Because I know I would see him again.

“‘He’s in a better place.’ People say that to me to try to make me feel better. In my mind, I don’t know. How do you know? If I die,

you can say that to my family – ‘he’s in a better place.’ They can rejoice in that. With me, I can’t really rejoice in that for my dad, or

that his suffering on this planet is done.

"Maybe it’s not done, and that scares me.”

A comfort

Michael may be scared for his father, but his faith remains firm as bedrock.

“I believe in the validity of Scripture and I believe it proves itself over and over again," he said, his words coming faster and more

confident than before. "It’s proved itself in my life. I don’t struggle with that."

So what does he make of his inspirational home run, the one that seemed to affirm that we'll see our loved ones again? Could a man

so wracked with doubt about the fate of his father's soul have done that?

Yes, Michael says. No matter the type of man his father was, no matter where he is now, Michael believes his death served a

purpose. Through one swing of a bat in a baseball game, Michael Lorenzen was able to touch thousands who may have been hurting

too.

"I think a lot of people found inspiration in that," he said. "I got tons of messages.

"It was nice to see that his life did mean something in the end, and still could."

Reds trade Brandon Phillips to Braves

C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan , Cincinnati Published 10:23 a.m. ET Feb. 12, 2017 | Updated 5 minutes ago

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — On the eve of the start of the 2017 Reds spring training, the team took another step forward in its ongoing

rebuild, trading long-time second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Braves for two minor-league pitchers.

For the Reds, this trade wasn’t about the return, it was about what it is leaving behind. The 35-year-old Phillips will one day be

enshrined in the Reds Hall of Fame, but his best days are well behind him and with a bevy of middle infield prospects, the Reds are

moving forward and parting with a big piece of the past.

“I think we all collectively thought this was the best move for the future of the organization,” Reds general manager Dick Williams

said Sunday. “It’s tough when you say goodbye to a popular player like that, especially one that’s been with you a long time and his

tenure has made such a connection to the fans. We’re not trying to win a popularity contest. We’re just trying to do what we

collectively feel is the best for the longer term future of the organization.”

The Reds will pay $13 million of Phillips’ remaining $14 million contract, while acquiring 27-year-old left-hander Andrew

McKirahan and 29-year-old right-hander Carlos Portundo.

The immediate future of the organization has Jose Peraza and Dilson Herrera in the middle infield along with veteran shortstop Zack

Cozart. Cozart, like Phillips, is in his final year before he hits free agency and could be shopped to open up an everyday spot. As of

now, the three — along with Arismendy Alcantara, Tony Renda, Zach Vincej and Hernan Iribarren — will get the bulk of the

playing time in spring training.

Williams and the Reds have had trade discussions about the 32-year-old Cozart since last season, but have found the market limited.

Because of his age and contract status, Cozart would be most attractive to a team that sees itself as a contender but suffers an injury

at shortstop.

The Reds acquired Peraza, who has played shortstop, second base, center field and left field, in the December, 2014, three-team

trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox. He has been a key piece of the team’s future plans since then, but the Aug. 1 addition

of Herrera in the Jay Bruce trade has increased the possibility he could end up at shortstop.

Just weeks ago, Reds manager Bryan Price said a lot could happen before Opening Day, so he was not interested in making too

many predictions about playing time this season. Phillips’ trade emphasizes that point.

Herrera played in just 24 games for the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate in Louisville after the trade because of a shoulder injury. This

spring, the team would like to get a closer look at Herrera, who turns 23 early next month.

“There should be plenty of at-bats to go around in spring training,” Williams said. “This trade does free up some opportunities for

these guys and we hope they'll take advantage of it.”

The Reds had been actively shopping Phillips since 2013, when he had a 12-team no-trade clause and wouldn’t approve a deal with

the Yankees. Since then, he earned full no-trade protection by accruing 10 years of service time with at least five with the same

team.

Phillips rejected a trade to his hometown Braves earlier this offseason. Last winter he turned down deals to Arizona and

Washington.

After Phillips spurned the Braves in November, Atlanta signed former Pirates infielder Sean Rodriguez to a two-year, $11.5 million

deal to man second base. Rodriguez was involved in a deadly car crash last month and will reportedly miss several months due to

shoulder surgery.

Williams said he and Price had honest conversations with Phillips about how his playing time could be cut short as the Reds look to

the future this season. Phillips’ agents recently reached out to Williams to let him know Phillips would be open to a trade.

“The conversations we had were positive and they were open-ended in the sense of ‘let’s get to camp. We just want to be straight

with you about where we are with the players we’re bringing and the priorities we have for them going forward,’” Williams said.

“Those were good conversations between Brandon and myself. I know Bryan had some similar talks with him. That may have

factored into his thinking. I really can’t speak for him.”

Phillips retains his 12-team no-trade clause with the Braves and will receive a $500,000 roster bonus in exchange for waiving his

no-trade rights. In the process, the Reds received a lesser package than they would have in the original deal. Williams called

McKirahan and Portundo “minor-league depth.” Neither player is on the 40-man roster, nor will they be in big-league camp.

McKirahan is 27 and is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, performed last March. McKirahan reached the big

leagues in 2015, putting up a 5.93 in 27 1/3 innings, all in relief. In 2015, he was suspended 80 games for violation of the league’s

drug policy against performance-enhancing drugs.

The Braves signed Portuondo, 29, out of Cuba last February. He went 2-1 with a 3.63 ERA in 17 appearances and one start between

high-A and Triple-A last season.

Sunday’s trade ends the 11-year tenure of Phillips in Cincinnati, where he became a no-doubt future member of the team’s Hall of

Fame and a fan-favorite.

Phillips was acquired in the first week of the 2006 season in a trade with Cleveland, with the Reds sending minor-league pitcher Jeff

Stevens to the Indians. In the 11 years since then, Phillips became the second-best second baseman in franchise history, collecting

the most home runs (191), hits (1,774), RBI (651) and doubles (311) at the position for the Reds.

He’s seventh all-time among all Reds players in games played (1,614) and plate appearances (6,899). He’s ninth in franchise history

in hits (1,774) and runs (877). He’s eighth in career doubles and 12th in home runs.

Along the way, Phillips made three All-Star teams and won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger. In 2007, he became just the

third Reds player to finish with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. He also became a fan-favorite with his

dazzling defense and sparkling smile.

The Reds gave him the six-year extension in 2012 after the team also rewarded Joey Votto. Later, Phillips would call the $72.5-

million contract a “slap in the face.”

Phillips finished 13th in MVP voting in 2012, .281/.321/.429 with 18 home runs and 15 stolen bases. In the four seasons since then,

he hasn’t been able to match or exceed that .750 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

Despite some nagging injuries, Phillips hit .291/.320/.416 with 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 2016.

The Reds now have 39 players on the 40-man roster and with Phillips gone, they could look to make a signing.

“We don’t rest. We’ll be looking,” Williams said. “We’re still looking to possibly do a signing here before things get going. We’re

also always eyeing the waiver wire. We do have an open spot so that gives us a little flexibility.”

Reds will face Brandon Phillips' Braves June 2-4 at GABP

Dave Clark, dclark@cincinnati.com 9:33 a.m. ET Feb. 13, 2017

With the Cincinnati Reds in the Cactus League and the Atlanta Braves in the Grapefruit League, second baseman Brandon Phillips -

traded over the weekend for pitchers Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portundo - isn't scheduled to face his former team for the first

time until June 2-4 at GABP.

Those three games are the only ones during the 2017 season that Phillips' team is slated to play in Cincinnati. (The Reds visit the

Braves Aug. 18-20.)

Phillips hasn't faced the Reds since he was with the Indians in 2003 - when he went 3-for-7 with a triple and two RBIs over three

games.

How has Phillips done against the Braves? In 314 plate appearances, he's hit .261 with seven homers and 41 RBIs with 13 stolen

bases.

Per baseball-reference.com, Phillips hasn't homered against the Braves since 2012, and he's never homered against anyone currently

on the Braves' pitching staff. (Of his seven career homers against Atlanta, the last three have come against Brandon Beachy in 2011

and 2012. He homered off of Jair Jurrjens in 2008, off of Ron Mahay in 2007, and off of Jason Shiell and Tyler Yates in one game

on Aug. 5, 2006.)

All seven of Phillips' home runs against the Braves have come at GABP. Surprisingly, Phillips never homered - in 153 career plate

appearances - at Turner Field, the home of the Braves from 1997 to 2016. The team is set to open at its new stadium, SunTrust Park,

for the upcoming season.

Among National League venues, Phillips has also never homered (in 121 plate appearances) at Nationals Park.

5 questions for Reds spring training

C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com Published 2:41 p.m. ET Feb. 12, 2017 | Updated 19 hours ago

As pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the Reds Player Development Complex in Goodyear, Ariz., on Monday,

Cincinnati Enquirer Reds beat writers C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan look to the biggest questions facing the team at the

beginning of spring training.

1. Who starts at second base and shortstop on Opening Day?

Brandon Phillips is gone, helping start the clearing of the Reds’ middle infield logjam, opening second base for either Jose Peraza or

Dilson Herrera. Zack Cozart remains, but the team has been looking to trade the veteran shortstop since at least July.

Cozart doesn’t have the no-trade rights that Phillips had, but there doesn’t seem to be a logical trade partner out there for his

services — yet.

Cozart is a specialty item, an elite defender at the position, but one that is under team control for just the 2017 season. A team would

not only have to need a shortstop, but they’d also have to believe they are contenders. Few contenders open spring training with a

question mark at shortstop. However, injuries could change things. If a shortstop for a contending team goes down, general manager

Dick Williams will likely be awaiting a call.

Peraza played four different positions for the Reds last season — shortstop, second base, center field and left field — while Herrera

is strictly a second baseman. The Reds could still move Peraza around, keeping him sharp in four different positions while Herrera

plays second as the team continues to move Cozart.

2. Which young pitchers will push their way onto the big-league roster?

A week ago, the Reds had one slot open in the rotation behind Anthony DeSclafani, Homer Bailey, Brandon Finnegan and Scott

Feldman. But with Bailey’s recent surgery, the Reds now have two rotation openings. They also have many more candidates.

Top prospects Amir Garrett, Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson would appear to be the front-runners for those two spots, but they’ll

have plenty of competition.

Other starters in camp on the 40-man roster include Tim Adleman, Luis Castillo, Keury Mella, Sal Romano, Jackson Stephens and

Nick Travieso. Not on the 40-man, but in camp are Ismael Guillon, Vladimir Gutirrez and Tyler Mahle.

And while he’s not young, veteran Bronson Arroyo is also in camp.

3. What’s the status of Homer Bailey and Devin Mesoraco?

Bailey had surgery to remove bone spurs in his right elbow last week and will miss four-to-six weeks. He’ll likely start the season

on the disabled list, but by the time camp breaks, the team should have a better idea of his timetable to return.

As for Mesoraco, he’s coming off hip and shoulder surgeries last year. He also had hip surgery in 2015. With a longer spring

training, Mesoraco will have an abbreviated workload at first, Price said, but the team hopes he’s ready to play regularly starting

Opening Day.

Bailey and Mesoraco have accounted for more than $35 million in payroll over the last two seasons while playing in a combined 47

games. The pair will cost more than $26 million in 2017 and more than $34 million in 2018.

4. What did the last July’s Cuban spending spree net?

The Reds have had success in the past by dipping into the Cuban market to sign Aroldis Chapman and Raisel Iglesias. This spring

will give us our first look at what the team netting in last July’s amateur signing period. The Reds spent $18.5 million to sign

Gutierrez and shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez.

Gutierrez will be in big league camp, but Rodriguez will not be.

A reliever in Cuba like Iglesias, the Reds believe Gutierrez can be a starter. He’ll get a chance to show how his stuff stacks up to big

leaguers during camp.

A slick fielder, Rodriguez is not in big-league camp, but he will get to play his first games with the Reds in the United States.

Rodriguez played in the Dominican Summer League last year after signing with the Reds.

5. Is this the end of the road for Bronson Arroyo?

Arroyo will celebrate his 40th birthday later this month, not having pitched in the big leagues since he was 37. A long-time Red and

former All-Star, Arroyo was in camp with the Nationals last spring, but was sidelined by injury and didn’t make the team.

In all, Arroyo made just two starts in the low levels of the minors for Washington before shutting his season down.

This spring could very well be the last go-round for Arroyo, who pitched for the Reds from 2006 to 2013.

How Michael Lorenzen prepares for the season

Zach Buchanan, zbuchanan@enquirer.com Published 11:17 p.m. ET Feb. 10, 2017 | Updated 11:18 p.m. ET Feb. 10, 2017

Jack Liebesman was just walking down a residential road with a friend one January day, minding his own business. Suddenly, he

was being addressed by a stranger in a Range Rover. For a 14-year-old who doesn’t quite yet look his age, it had all the makings of

an after-school PSA video.

“Do you guys play baseball?” the man asked. Jack answered in the affirmative. “Do you want to have a catch? Where do you live?”

The man was Cincinnati Reds pitcher Michael Lorenzen, who needed someone to throw with as he began his offseason arm

workouts. His wife, Cassi, stunned at her husband’s boldness, was sitting in the passenger seat.

Lorenzen introduced himself, adding an important disclosure.

‘Yeah, you can look me up,’” Jack remembered him saying. “’I’m not some pedophile or something.’”

Jack went home and did some research, and also picked up Lorenzen for his fantasy team. Then he texted his older brother, Troy,

who is a 22-year-old pitcher for San Diego City College. The brothers meet regularly with the major-leaguer now to throw and learn

at a local elementary school.

That’s how Lorenzen found his offseason throwing partners, and it’s just about the only unplanned part of his fitness routine. The

25-year-old right-hander is one of the most physically fit players in the majors and maintains his body with a military discipline. On

a recent visit to his home north of San Diego, The Enquirer got to see his spring training preparation first-hand.

This particular weekend, Lorenzen was changing diets. He’d just wrapped up a high-fat diet that limited him to 1,500 calories a day.

Since fats have more calories than proteins or carbohydrates, that meant little eating.

Like some sort of superhero, his deprivation led to enhanced senses. He treasures flavor more. He eats with his eyes closed.

“Now I eat anything and there’s an appreciation for it,” Lorenzen said. “It’s so good. So good, dude. It took me not eating the pizza

and the pretzels and French toast. French toast, dude. Oh, man. I miss that so much.”

Lorenzen has always been health-conscious, but not that much. As a workout fiend with a high metabolism and an aversion to

alcohol, he was never in danger of growing a gut.

He stopped drinking soda his junior year of high school during a trip to Mexico with Team USA. Scared to drink the water, he’d

relied solely on soft drinks during the trip. After seeing the color of his urine, he became more afraid for his kidneys.

He’s only tasted a soda one time since, at the urging of his college teammates at Cal State Fullerton. He had a Sprite.

Now he has a greater understanding of how food affects his body. He used to wake up every morning and have four eggs with

almond-buttered wheat toast with bananas and blueberries. Now he knows that he’s allergic to every one of those things but the

almond butter, the foods causing inflammation in his body. He draws a not-so-dotted line between that and the elbow injury he had

last year.

He uses an apple tree as a metaphor. If the apples don’t ripen, the problem’s not with the fruit. It’s with the tree.

“That’s what everyone wants to do with pitching,” he said. “Everyone wants to fix the apple by painting the apple and making it

look good. It’s changing the soil. It starts from the inside out.”

This weekend, Lorenzen was done with his high-fat cleanse. He’d wiped 20 pounds off his body from his playing weight of 215

pounds, and now it was time to build back up. He’s back to favoring carbs and protein, and back to lifting weights, which he does at

a gym at the mall.

His body is more muscular than most pitchers, and even most position players. Some around the game have wondered if his bulk is

counterproductive for his performance and his health. Lorenzen is starting to agree, but just to a point.

He concedes that he’s worn too much muscle in the past, and that it wouldn’t be good for his joints in the long term. But he sees

little downside to being jacked, so long as he’s also flexible. That’s why he doesn’t dedicate himself to one workout program. Muay

Thai gave him more hip power and helped him dunk. He’s also found inspiration from movement coach Ido Portal, including an odd

lizard crawl that raises eyebrows at the 24-Hour Fitness where he works out.

“You can’t be 6 percent body fat and be a pitcher,” Lorenzen said. “You have to have weight on you to protect yourself. There’s

always a balance to everything. The bigger and stronger you are, the better you are, as long as that’s just not the only thing about

you.”

Reds increase Asian scouting efforts

C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com 1:41 p.m. ET Feb. 10, 2017

The Cincinnati Reds are the only team in Major League Baseball to never have had a Japanese player on their team. That could

change in the near future.

While Asia was deemed too expensive under previous general manager Walt Jocketty, Dick Williams has expanded the Reds’

scouting efforts to Asia, hiring Rob Fidler as the team’s Manager of Pacific Rim Scouting and Jamey Storvick as an area scout

based in Taiwan. Storvick will also cover Korea and the team is in the process of hiring a scout in Japan.

“It's an area of the world that we haven't had the resources to be real active, but we're seeing enough opportunity and growth that we

think we need to have a better handle on that market and we want to be there,” said Williams, who was named general manager after

the 2015 season, but took over day-to-day responsibilities from Jocketty following the 2016 season. “We want to know those

players better. This is an important new initiative for us.”

The new rules in the collective bargaining agreement make acquiring Asian players less expensive, including a limit on the

maximum posting fee to $20 million. That’s still a high price, but is one that makes every team a possible player in the most high-

profile of players from Asia, especially Japan.

This doesn’t, of course, mean the Reds are planning on bidding for Japanese sensation Shohei Otani when he is posted — but it

means it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

“You can always dream,” Williams joked when asked about Otani.

Nobody expected the Reds to be a player for Aroldis Chapman after he left Cuba, either. But the team had been scouting Cuba

heavily and have since signed not only Chapman but also Raisel Iglesias, Vladimir Gutierrez and Alfredo Rodriguez.

The Reds have had other players from other Asian countries, most recently Shin-Soo Choo of Korea, but Choo had been an

established big-leaguer when the Reds traded for him.

Each of the team’s rivals in the National League Central has some connection to Asia — the Pirates have infielder Jung Ho Kang of

Korea, the Cardinals' closer is Seung Hwan Oh of Korea and the Cubs have Japanese reliever Koji Uehara. While the Brewers don’t

have a player born in Asia, they did sign first baseman Eric Thames to a three-year, $16 million contract after playing three years

for the NC Dinos in Korea.

“The fact that more and more players are coming out of there, those players are getting traded,” Williams said. “It's better to have a

familiarity with them, there are more players trying to come out at younger ages. The prices are dropping on some of the players,

you're not seeing the crazy-high posting fees and all that anymore. We just want to be more involved in that market.”

Fidler, who speaks Japanese, will be based in Seattle. He was hired from the Cardinals, where he had been an area scout and also

worked on the team’s international efforts.

At some point in the coming season, some of the team’s senior members of the scouting department, like Cam Bonifay and Terry

Reynolds, will go to Asia to see players in person, said Nick Krall, an assistant general manager.

Krall and Eric Lee, the director of baseball operations, had spent more than two years looking into the possibilities of expanding the

team’s reach into Asia before Williams hired Fidler and Storvick.

The team had been paying attention to the Asian market, but doing it mostly online, using video and analytics in addition to a

scouting service that caters to multiple teams. Now they will have their own proprietary scouting information that can help not just

in signing players directly from Asia, but also aid the team in trades that involve players from Asia because of the initial scouting

information that often comes from amateur scouting and minor-league scouting information.

“If we make a decision, we want to make a thorough decision in everything we do,” Krall said. “There's a lot of different stuff you

can do in conjunction with Japanese baseball that we feel we can make better decisions now other than just having a random guy

over there to waste money.”

Sean Casey promotes auction for Miracle Bash

Dave Clark, dclark@cincinnati.com

Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey is auctioning many items for his Casey's Clubhouse foundation in advance of the upcoming Miracle

Bash 2017 on Feb. 24.

Items already available for bidding on Handbid as part of the silent auction taking place at the Miracle Bash include sports

memorabilia, vacation packages and one-of-a-kind items, with proceeds going to the Miracle League of the South Hills in

Pennsylvania.

There's plenty of Pittsburgh among the sports memorabilia, but there's also a baseball signed by former Madeira High School star

and current Boston Red Sox prospect Andrew Benintendi, a Classic Wrigley Field Rooftop Experience, an autographed John Cena

replice WWE belt and several items signed by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder.

WCPO - Channel 9 Reds fans: Brandon Phillips trade is best for team

'His defense, you just can't replace that'

Rose-Ann Aragon, WCPO Staff

Posted: 7:03 PM, Feb 12, 2017, Updated: 7:11 PM, Feb 12, 2017

CINCINNATI -- Jason Sansone wasn’t surprised that Cincinnati Reds star Brandon Phillips was traded. He was only surprised that

Phillips didn’t leave sooner.

Sansone, of Covington, has been a Reds fan “since birth.” He said Phillips seemed like a really good player in a not-so-good

situation.

Phillips, Reds second baseman and fan favorite, was traded to the Atlanta Braves early Sunday morning, a move that opens up the

infield, likely for top prospect Jose Peraza.

Sansone said the trade will be a good thing, at least for Phillips.

“Brandon Phillips is the best defensive second baseman I’ve ever seen … also more than adequate at the plate,” Sansone said.

“He’ll be missed, but I think he deserves a better situation than what the Reds are in right now.”

Mark Folta, of Maineville, said he was shocked to hear about the trade.

“I couldn’t believe it. He’s such a great player,” Folta said. “He’s kind of like the face of the Reds … I was really bummed out to

hear about it.”

Halsey Mably, of Over-the-Rhine, said trading Phillips will help the Reds rebuild.

“They’re losing an all-star player … that hits for the leadership on the team, but I think going young, and finding leadership and

getting these guys playing time right now will be a big thing for the Reds,” Mably said.

The Reds picked up right-hander Carlos Portuondo, 29, and left-hander Andrew McKirahan, 27, in Sunday's deal, but many fans are

left wondering who will replace “Dat Dude.”

As for replacing Phillips, Mably isn’t entirely sure, but he’s confident they’ll find the right player.

“We’ll just have to see what Price is going to do with the lineup, and I know he’ll make the right choice.”

Mably doubts the Reds will find a defensive player that compares to Phillips.

“His defense, you just can’t replace that,” Mably said. “He was -- I mean, even at this age now -- he’s still one of the best defenders

in baseball.

“That’s what you lose. He just fields the thing better than anyone else.”

But for those who are tried-and-true like Folta, the trade doesn’t change much.

“It’ll change the dynamics a little bit, but I’m still a Reds fan,” Folta said.

As Brandon Phillips is dealt, here are nine notable trades in Cincinnati Reds history

Dave Niinemets

Posted: 1:31 PM, Feb 12, 2017, Updated: 1:31 PM, Feb 12, 2017

CINCINNATI -- For better or worse, the Brandon Phillips era has come to an end with the Reds.

A fan favorite for some and an unnecessary salary burden in other’s eyes, the three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner

is one of the last remaining pieces of a Reds core that made the playoffs in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Brandon Phillips is heading to the Atlanta Braves in a trade. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Big names Johnny Cueto, Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Mike Leake all have moved on since that last postseason appearance.

While the trade comes as no big shock -- aside from the red tape of Phillips’ no-trade clause finally being cleared -- there is

significance given his history with the Reds.

As with all Major League teams, the Reds have had some high-profile trades over the years. Here’s a look at nine memorable trades

the Reds have made.

1. Ken Griffey Jr. from the Seattle Mariners, Feb. 10, 2000.

This one was huge for so many reasons when it happened. Aside from the fact that the best and most marketable player in the

majors at the time was coming to town at the peak of his career, it also was the return home of a Moeller kid whose dad was Big

Red Machine royalty.

Ken Griffey Jr. doffs his new Reds cap at a news conference after his trade from Seattle on Feb, 10, 2000. At left is his father, Ken

Griffey Sr. At right is their agent, Brian Goldberg.

It never quite panned out the way it was supposed to, as Junior managed a solid yet injury-plagued nine years here. He did manage

210 home runs and three All-Star Game appearances in that span. The key player heading to Seattle in the trade, outfielder Mike

Cameron, proved to be a nice piece for Seattle for a few season, but would bounce around the majors the rest of his career.

2. Frank Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles, Dec. 9, 1965.

This is likely the worst trade in Reds history. Robinson had already established himself as a superstar, having won National League

Rookie of the Year in 1956 and NL Most Valuable Player in 1961.

Frank Robinson's career as a Red is commemorated by a statue outside of Great American Ball Park. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Needing an infusion to its anemic pitching staff, the Reds would use their biggest bargaining chip to get pitchers Milt Pappas and

Jack Baldschun from the Orioles, along with outfielder Dick Simpson. The lopsidedness of this trade could be seen immediately, as

Robinson would win the Triple Crown and the American League MVP in his first season with Baltimore. Meanwhile, Pappas

played three seasons for the Reds, going 30-29. Baldshun and Simpson each only lasted two seasons here with very little

production.

3. Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox, Dec. 16, 2015.

This one hit Reds fans hard, as it came the same year Frazier solidified himself as a fan darling as the star of All-Star Game

weekend in Cincinnati. His dramatic performance in winning the Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park was the highlight

of an otherwise dismal season for the Reds. He also was one of the top-performing third basemen in all of baseball in 2015.

Todd Frazier solidified his standing as a fan favorite after his dramatic Home Run Derby win at Great American Ball Park during

All-Star Game festivities in 2015. (Elsa/Getty Images)

But in the age of teams selling high, this one could still prove to be a great trade in the long run. Jose Peraza, whom the Reds

received from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the three-team trade, had an excellent run in the big leagues last season and is one of the

team’s hottest prospects.

Outfielder Scott Schebler, also acquired in the deal, has also shown promise.

4. Tom Seaver from the New York Mets, June 15, 1977.

On the heels of the Big Red Machine winning back-to-back World Series, the Reds added Seaver, a future Hall of Famer and one of

the most dominant aces in baseball in his time with the Mets.

Seaver’s mere star power made the trade high-profile, and while he never duplicated his workhorse Mets’ numbers, he gave the

Reds a solid six seasons, going 75-46 with a 3.18 ERA.

His best season, 1981, was limited by a work stoppage. He finished the strike-shortened season at 14-2 and second to the Dodgers’

Fernando Valenzuela in Cy Young Award votes.

5. Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals, July 26, 2015.

Like the Frazier trade, this one was a tough blow to Reds fans as they saw the first big piece of the Dusty Baker-era teams fall.

While it wasn’t unexpected -- it was clear the Reds weren’t going to shell out the huge market value salary for the ace -- it was still

painful so soon after the good feelings of hosting the All-Star Game in Cincinnati. Cueto was also coming off a 2014 season in

which he went 20-9 and finished second in Cy Young balloting.

Johnny Cueto went on to win a World Series ring with the Kansas City Royals after being traded by the Reds. (Jamie Squire/Getty

Images)

Also much like the Frazier deal, the value of the trade remains to be seen. The Reds acquired pitchers John Lamb, Brandon

Finnegan and Cody Reed from the Royals. If they pan out, it could be a success.

But what’s definitely a success is Cueto, who won a World Series ring with Kansas City in 2015 before signing a huge deal with the

San Francisco Giants and becoming an All-Star with them in 2016.

6. Joe Morgan from the Houston Astros, Nov. 29, 1971.

In a trade astrosdaily.com called the worst trade in Astros history, the Reds gained one of the cornerstones on its Big Red Machine

dynasty as well as two other key pieces.

Joe Morgan acknowledges the crowd as he walks onto the field during a celebration of the Big Red Machine Great Eight starting

lineup at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 6, 2013. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Morgan would win two MVPs and two World Series rings with the Reds en route to a Hall of Fame career. The Reds also received

Cesar Geronimo and Jack Billingham in the deal. Geronimo became a defensive stalwart for the Reds in their ‘70s glory days and

Billingham was a key contributor on the pitching staff for those teams.

Meanwhile, the Astros received Lee May, Jimmy Stewart and Tommy Helms from the deal.

7. Pete Rose from the Montreal Expos, Aug. 16, 1984.

From a production standpoint, this wasn’t a big move. But from a symbolic and historical standpoint, it was massive.

Pete Rose celebrates record 4,192nd hit on Sept. 11, 1985.

Rose was certainly in the twilight of his playing career, but was also on the cusp of breaking the all-time Major League base hits

record, a feat he would accomplish on Sept. 11, 1985. To have him do it in a Reds uniform meant everything to Reds fans.

Also upon his return, he became manager, serving in the rare duel role as player and manager. As we know, his career as a manager

didn’t end well with gambling issues and an eventual lifetime ban from baseball, but Cincinnati couldn’t have been happier than

when its favorite son returned home to become the Hit King.

8. Tony Perez to the Montreal Expos, Dec. 16, 1976.

This is the trade that began to take apart the Big Red Machine. Perez’s big bat and ability to drive in runs were huge reasons for the

Reds’ success in the ‘70s. Seen as expendable since prospect Dan Driessen was ready for a starting role at first base, Perez would be

moved for pitchers Dale Murray and Woodie Fryman, neither of whom would make an impact here.

Perez would have some solid years for Montreal and the Boston Red Sox, but was never an All-Star again after seven appearances

with the Reds. He would make a late-career return with the Reds and had a very brief stint as manager.

The rest of the Big Red Machine core would leave in the years following Perez’s departure, most notably Rose in 1978 and Morgan

in 1978, both via free agency.

9. Adam Dunn to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Aug. 11, 2008.

This trade was not unlike the Phillips deal in that Dunn was a fan favorite to some and seen as a salary albatross to others. His big

home run totals and Paul Bunyan-like reputation for hitting monster blasts endeared him for years, but he also had a penchant for

walking and striking out... a lot.

Adam Dunn belts a homer in a game in 2005 at Great American Ball Park. (David Maxwell/Getty Images)

Much like with Phillips, Dunn was part of a core group that included Austin Kearns, Dmitri Young, Sean Casey and Pokey Reese

that would eventually break apart in favor of rebuilding.

The Reds received Dallas Buck, Wilkin Castillo and Micah Owings for Dunn, none of whom would make much of an impact.

Dunn went on to play for four more teams after the Reds, making one All-Star appearance along the way.

Trading Brandon Phillips was a deal the Reds had to make, John Fay says

John Fay

Posted: 11:54 AM, Feb 12, 2017, UPDATED: 11:45 PM, Feb 12, 2017

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- It was a deal the Reds had to make.

Not because the prospects they got for Brandon Phillips were so good. When the prospects are 29 and 27, they’re not really even

prospects.

The Reds had to make the deal because they had to move on from Brandon Phillips. He had a great career with the club. He’ll make

the team Hall of Fame as soon as he’s eligible.

That made the trade tough, but, again, the Reds had to do it.

“We all collectively thought that this was the best move for the future of the organization,” president of baseball operations Dick

Williams said. “It’s tough when you see good-bye to popular player like that, especially one who has been with you a long time and

it is tenured and made such connection to the fans.

“We’re not trying to win a popularity contest. We’re trying to do collectively what is best for the longer-term future.”

But Phillips was not going to be around when the Reds are competitive again, and he was going to keep a player who is a major part

of the future from playing. Jose Peraza can play every day now. He’s ready for that.

Having Peraza in the super utility role would do nothing for his overall development. This way, the Reds get to determine if Peraza

is a middle infielder in the future.

While this trade is about the future, I think it helps the Reds for this year. Peraza is a better offensive player than Phillips at this

point. Peraza’s slash line was .324/.352/.411. Phillips’ was .291/.320/.416.

Phillips’ WAR (Wins Above Replacement) was 31st among major league second baseman.

Phillips turns 36 in June. His WAR has gone from 5.4 to 3.4 to 2.5 to 1.6 to 2.7 to 0.9 over the last six years, according baseball-

reference.com.

He may have a revival in Atlanta, but the numbers suggest otherwise.

It’s hard to say why Phillips was willing to accept the trade this time after rejecting trades three other times. My guess is the Reds

gave him a nudge by telling him his playing was going to be significantly reduced.

Williams did not anoint Peraza the second baseman. Zack Cozart, Peraza and Dilson Herrera will get a bulk of the time in spring.

“That’s a logical conclusion,” he said. “We still want to see Herrera. The good thing about Peraza is he plays both of those middle

infield spots.”

It’s hard to say why Phillips was willing to accept the trade this time after rejecting trades three other times. My guess is Reds gave

him a nudge by telling him his playing was going to be significantly reduced.

“I don’t want to speak for Brandon on that,” Williams said. “I want him to be able to answer the question. This fall we did have

something put together and he determined it wasn’t a fit at the time.

“What changed in the offseason? I know that Bryan and I were honest with him about what to expect coming into this year. I mean

that in very positive way. We talked about how we thought everybody could

help the club and where the roles would be and we use spring training to determine a lot of things for season.”

“I don’t know if that played into his thinking. In the past, he was reluctant to leave Cincinnati. I do that his thinking changed. His

representatives let us know if there was the right opportunity, he’d open to it.”

That Atlanta is his hometown helps as well.

As a Red, Phillips was as good defensively at second base as any player in history, in my opinion. He played hard, except for

occasional lapses. He was great in the community.

It’s a shame it had to end this way. But when you’re rebuilding, you have to part with players who were very much a part of the

history. We saw it with Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman.

“These trades — we’ve had a handful of them the last few years — we traded off players who had been with us a while —they’re

tough,” Williams said. “Brandon is a guy who had a great career with the Reds on and off the field.

“. . . It’s never easy.”

The Reds waited too long on most of them. In Phillips’ case, they probably should have made the move before he got his 5-and-10

rights.

That’s easy to say in retrospect. Phillips reached 10 years of service time in 2014. The trade deadline of that year was the time to

move him.

The players the Reds got -- Carlos Portuondo and Andrew McKirahan -- won’t help this year and probably never will. Here’s a hint:

Neither is on the 40-man roster; neither is invited to big league camp.

“I would consider them minor league depth,” Williams said.

But that wasn’t the point of the trade. They had to make it to move on from Phillips.

That’s a little sad for fans, but the Reds started the move toward the future a long time ago. This is just another move they had to

make.

Fay: Reds Question 8: Will this be Billy Hamilton's year?

He says 'it's going to be big'

John Fay | WCPO contributor

8:00 AM, Feb 12, 2017

This is the eighth in a series of nine questions about the Reds as they head toward spring training.

CINCINNATI -- There were two questions about Billy Hamilton entering the 2016 season:

1) Could he hit enough to warrant playing every day?

2) Could he stay healthy enough to play a full season?

Just as Hamilton seemed to answering the first question, the second came into play. Hamilton was hitting .293 with a .352 on-base

percentage after the All-Star Break, but his season ended on Sept. 4 with an oblique injury.

It took most of October for Hamilton to get healthy, but he's had a normal offseason compared to last year when he was recovering

from right shoulder surgery. He did not resume full baseball activities until spring training -- and he was limited even then.

That may have had something to do with his slow start at the plate. He was hitting .227 on May 29. He hit .272 the rest of the way.

He's spent this offseason in Cincinnati, working with Reds coach Billy Hatcher.

"It's been great," he said. "It's been a normal offseason. I go in the cage, and I feel like I did where I left off at. It felt natural. It was

just flowing and everything. I feel like it's going to be big for me."

Hamilton gives the Reds a different dimension in the leadoff spot. He gets into scoring position nearly every time he reaches base.

He had 58 steals in 66 attempts last year. When he's on, pitchers also alter their delivery in order to get the ball to the plate quicker.

He leads the majors with 184 stolen bases since his debut in 2013. He also wins a game from time to time with his speed -- turning a

popup to a sacrifice fly or scoring from second on a wide pitch.

But the injury question lingers. Hamilton was limited to 119 games last year and 114 games in 2015. His all-out style on the bases

and in center field and his thin build make him susceptible to getting hurt.

"I'm working on getting stronger so I can stay healthy," he said.

If he does that -- and hits -- the Reds will really have something.

Brandon Phillips traded to Atlanta Braves

WCPO Staff, John Fay

Posted: 6:57 AM, Feb 12, 2017, Updated: 3:05 PM, Feb 12, 2017

CINCINNATI -- It's a done deal: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds second baseman and a fan favorite, has been traded to the

Atlanta Braves. The move opens up the infield, likely for top prospect Jose Peraza.

The Reds picked up right-hander Carlos Portuondo, 29, and left-hander Andrew McKirahan, 27, in Sunday's deal. Neither is on the

40-man roster, and neither is invited to big league camp

"We appreciate Brandon's contributions to our organization," president of baseball operations Dick Williams said. "He excited our

fan base and was an important part of several seasons of winning Reds baseball. We wish him well with this next opportunity."

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal first reported the deal was likely late Saturday. By Sunday morning, ESPN's Buster Olney reported it

was "finished."

Phillips, 35, was in the last season of a six-year, $72.5 million contract with the Reds. Cincinnati will pay most of the $14 million

he's owed this year, Rosenthal reported.

Despite his enormous popularity with fans, WCPO's John Fay suggested last month that Peraza would be a better choice at second

than Phillips based on performance.

"It’s the toughest call of Dick Williams’ short tenure as president of baseball operations, although ultimately it’s CEO Bob

Castellini’s decision," Fay wrote Jan. 12.

Phillips had full no-trade rights as a player with 10 years of service time and five with the same team, and he'd blocked trades in the

past. It's not clear what moved him on the Atlanta deal, though it puts him in his hometown.

The move also is a change of heart for Reds ownership, who as recently as last month weren't prepared to eat his $14 million salary.

More from Reds vice president of media relations Rob Butcher:

McKirahan, 27, originally was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 21st round of the 2011 first-year player draft. He was taken by

the Miami Marlins in the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft and on April 1, 2015 was claimed off waivers by the Braves.

McKirahan has posted a sterling 2.20 ERA in 96 career minor league appearances. He pitched in 27 games for the Braves in 2015

but missed the entire 2016 season recovering from "Tommy John" surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left

elbow.

Portuondo, 29, was signed by the Braves in February 2016 as an international free agent from Cuba, where he made 44 starts and 81

relief appearances for Santiago in Cuba Serie Nacional. He spent last season in the minor leagues pitching for Atlanta's Class A

affiliate at Carolina and Class AAA club at Gwinnett.

Fay: Reds Question 7: Can Devin Mesoraco come back as everyday catcher?

Will his repaired hips hold up?

John Fay | WCPO contributor

8:00 AM, Feb 11, 2017

This is the seventh in a series of nine questions about the Reds as they head toward spring training.

CINCINNATI -- Devin Mesoraco's situation is a lot like Homer Bailey's.

The Reds are hopeful, but no one knows exactly what to expect. As Bailey's setback shows, it's hard to count on someone who's

missed virtually all of the last two seasons and is coming off multiple surgeries.

Mesoraco, 28, has had surgery on both hips and his left shoulder in the last two years. He's had a good offseason.

"I'm stronger at this point than I was last year," he said.

But he won't get a good test of the shoulder until he hits against live pitching, and catching every day will be a test for his hips.

Mesoraco knows this is a big year for him. He knows he won't get many more chances to prove he's the same guy who hit .273 with

25 home runs and 80 RBI and was an All-Star in 2014.

The injuries have limited Mesoraco to 39 games over the last two years and hampered his effectiveness when he did play. He's hit

.158 with no home runs in those 39 games.

"They're not going to wait around forever," Mesoraco said at Redsfest. "I've got to be out there playing. I realize this may be the last

time I have an opportunity to be an everyday player and establish myself as one of the better catchers in the game, the guy the

organization invested in and knew they had. It just hadn't turned out the way everybody hoped. That's the player I think I am. My

expectation is to get back there."

The plan is for Mesoraco to get the majority of playing time if he can handle the workload. If he can't, the Reds are better equipped

to handle it than they were last spring.

Tucker Barnhart had a solid year at the plate in Mesoraco's absence last year. Barnhart, 26, hit .257 with seven home runs and 51

RBI in 377 at-bats.

Barnhart, 26, won a Gold Glove as the top catcher in all of the minors. His bat was the question. It's less so now.

The Reds picked up Stuart Turner from the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 draft to add depth at catcher. Turner, 25, hit .239 in

Double-A last year. The Reds have to keep him on the 25-man roster all year or offer him back to the Twins. That decision, of

course, will hinge on how healthy Mesoraco is in the spring. And, as the Reds found out with Bailey, the health of a player coming

off multiple surgeries is hard to predict.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS Done deal: Reds trade Brandon Phillips to Braves

B.J. Bethel

2:17 p.m Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017 Homepage

UPDATE (2 p.m., SUNDAY)

The Reds have traded second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Atlanta Braves for a pair of minor-league pitchers.

"We appreciate Brandon's contributions to our organization," Reds General Manager Dick Williams said. "He excited our fan base

and was an important part of several seasons of winning Reds baseball. We wish him well with this next opportunity.”

The Reds acquired left-hander Andrew McKirahan and right-hander Carlos Portuondo from the Braves.

More importantly, the trade frees up playing time for a pair of young middle infielders -- Jose Peraza and Dilson Herrera -- as the

Reds continue to rebuild.

Phillips, 35, was a three-time all-star and four-time Gold Glove in 11 seasons with the Reds.

INITIAL REPORT

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com and MLB Network reported on Twitter late Saturday that the Atlanta Braves were close to

finalizing a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for second baseman Brandon Phillips.

Phillips status for the season was uncertain. The Reds want to work younger infielders into their starting lineup. Phillips has a no-

trade clause and exercised it in January when he voided a previous trade to Atlanta.

Phillips has status as a 10-5 player to block any trade. He’s currently in the final year of his contract. Phillips, who became the face

of the Reds franchise and a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove second baseman with the Reds, said he wanted to finish his career

and live in Cincinnati and didn’t want traded.

The popular Red, whose highlight reel skill on defense was unparalleled, was innovative for his fan outreach, particularly through

social media and Twitter, where he was one of the first pro athletes to use the platform to reach fans.

Rosenthal said the renewed impetus from the Braves was due to Sean Rodriguez, an Atlanta utility player getting injured in a car

accident last week. He will be out three to five months. Hurdles do remain on the Reds side - Phillips injured his hand late in 2016

and would need cleared medically.

Phillips hit .291 in 141 games in 2016. He had 11 home runs, 64 RBIs and 34 doubles.

The Georgia native, who graduated from high school in Stone Mountain, has a house in Atlanta.

ESPN.COM Reds continue rebuild by trading Brandon Phillips

Buster Olney, ESPN Senior Writer

The Reds and Braves have completed their talks and settled on terms, and after some administrative boxes are checked Sunday

morning, Brandon Phillips will officially join Atlanta, having waived his no-trade clause. He could’ve killed this trade, just as he

squashed the Reds’ efforts to swap him in the past -- most notably to the Nationals early in the 2015-16 offseason, in what became

the best deal that Washington GM Mike Rizzo didn’t make, because Rizzo moved on from Phillips and eventually signed Daniel

Murphy.

What was different about the Braves' proposal for Phillips? Well, it probably had something to do with the fact that the Reds’

commitment to rebuilding was going to cut into Phillips’ playing time in 2017. Right now, his best chance to play a lot is in Atlanta.

Over the past couple of years, Cincinnati has traded most of its core stars from the teams that made the playoffs three times in four

years from 2010 to 2013. Aroldis Chapman, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and Jay Bruce are gone, and it seems inevitable that

shortstop Zack Cozart will be traded sometime in the next five months.

Reds trade second baseman Brandon Phillips to Braves

The Reds received left-handed pitcher Andrew McKirahan and right-hander Carlos Portuondo. McKirahan, 27, appeared in 27

games in relief for the Braves in 2015, posting a 5.93 ERA. He had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and again last year. Portuondo is a

29-year-old Cuban whose only American experience is 17 games between Class A and Triple-A last season.

"We are excited to add Brandon Phillips to our club." Braves general manager John Coppolella said in a statement. "He is a Gold

Glove-caliber defender who will also deepen our offensive lineup. We are thrilled to 'welcome home' Brandon to Atlanta, where he

will play in front of his family and friends and many of his fans."

Most hits by second basemen since 2006 season

Only Robinson Cano has more hits than Brandon Phillips among second basemen since 2006.

PLAYER HITS

Robinson Cano 2,055

Brandon Phillips 1,774

Ian Kinsler 1,696

Dustin Pedroia 1,683

-- ESPN Stats & Information

Phillips is in the final year of a six-year, $72.5 million extension that he signed in 2012. He will make $14 million in the coming

season. A source told ESPN's Buster Olney that the Braves will only have to pay $1 million, with Cincinnati picking up the rest.

"We appreciate Brandon's contributions to our organization," Reds general manager Dick Williams said. "He excited our fan base

and was an important part of several seasons of winning Reds baseball. We wish him well with this next opportunity."

Phillips had a full no-trade clause as a result of being in the league for 10 years and five with the same team. He waived that to go to

Atlanta. He also had a limited no-trade clause to 12 teams that he received when he signed an extension with Cincinnati in 2012.

Coppolella issued a second statement on Sunday clarifying Phillips' standing on the Braves.

"Since John Schuerholz took over as GM in 1991, we have never granted no-trade provisions and we have no intention of changing

that policy," the GM said, but he added that "teams are obligated to honor the contract of players they trade for. We will honor

Brandon's limited no-trade clause because we are bound to honor the contract provision just as we are bound to honor other contract

terms whenever we trade for a player.

"If Brandon would happen to be traded from the Braves to another team, he would receive a $500,000 assignment bonus.

"It should be noted that we never included no-trade or limited-trade provisions for players such as Hall of Famers Greg Maddux,

Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, as well as future Hall of Famers Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff and Andruw Jones, and we have no

intention to include these provisions in the future."

The Braves made the trade because they had a need for a second baseman. Infielder Sean Rodriguez will undergo surgery on his left

shoulder and will miss three to five months, according to Fox Sports. Rodriguez, his wife and two young children were involved in

a serious car crash on Jan. 28, when they were T-boned by a driver who stole a Miami police cruiser. Rodriguez suffered the injury

during the crash, Fox Sports reported.

Trying to rebuild, the Reds have dealt stars over the past couple of years, including Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Johnny Cueto.

Phillips rejected a trade to Atlanta earlier this offseason. Last winter, he turned down potential trades to the Arizona Diamondbacks

and Washington Nationals.

Phillips, 35, has played 15 years in the majors, the past 11 with Cincinnati. He is a three-time All-Star who is a career .275 hitter and

has won four Gold Gloves. Last season, Phillips hit .291 with 11 homers and 64 RBIs.

TRANSACTIONS 02/12/17

Cincinnati Reds traded 2B Brandon Phillips to Atlanta Braves for LHP Andrew McKirahan and RHP Carlos Portuondo.

02/11/17

Washington Nationals invited non-roster 3B Drew Ward to spring training.

Washington Nationals invited non-roster OF Andrew Stevenson to spring training.

Washington Nationals invited non-roster LHP Nick Lee to spring training.

Washington Nationals invited non-roster RHP Wander Suero to spring training.

Washington Nationals invited non-roster RHP Taylor Hill to spring training.

Washington Nationals invited non-roster 1B Neftali Soto to spring training.

Washington Nationals invited non-roster C Jhonatan Solano to spring training.

Washington Nationals signed free agent LHP Neal Cotts to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Jeremy Guthrie to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Anthony Bass to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Washington Nationals invited non-roster RHP Erick Fedde to spring training.

02/10/17

Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent RHP Tom Wilhelmsen to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Chicago White Sox sent Kevan Smith outright to Charlotte Knights.

Luke Maile changed number to 21.

Pittsburgh Pirates designated RHP Nefi Ogando for assignment.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster 2B Luis Urias to spring training.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster C Rocky Gale to spring training.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster LHP Kyle McGrath to spring training.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster LHP Brad Wieck to spring training.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster RHP Phil Maton to spring training.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster RHP Dinelson Lamet to spring training.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster RHP Michael Kelly to spring training.

San Diego Padres invited non-roster RHP Jason Jester to spring training.

Arizona Diamondbacks traded 2B Phil Gosselin to Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Frank Duncan.

Los Angeles Angels designated RHP Deolis Guerra for assignment.

Cleveland Indians signed free agent LHP Luis Perez to a minor league contract.

Cleveland Indians traded RHP Austin Adams to Los Angeles Angels for cash.

Baltimore Orioles designated C Francisco Pena for assignment.

New York Mets traded RHP Gabriel Ynoa to Baltimore Orioles for cash.