Reds trade second baseman Phillips to Braves
Atlanta acquires three-time All-Star for two pitchers; Syndergaard ready to start
The Atlanta Braves acquired three-time All-Star Brandon Phillips on Sunday from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for two pitchers.
The Braves traded away left-hander Andrew McKirahan and minor league righthander Carlos Portuondo.
Braves general manager John Coppolella called Phillips a “Gold Glove-caliber defender whowill 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,” Coppolella said.
Phillips graduated from Redan High in Stone Mountain, Ga., in 1999, when he was drafted in the second round by the Montreal Expos. He made his debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2002.
Phillips, a 35-year-old second baseman, is signed through the 2017 season.
He had a full no-trade clause, having at least 10 years of playing experience. After being traded to the Braves, his contract reverts to a partial no-trade clause, which lists 12 teams to which he cannot be traded.
“It should be noted that wenever 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,” Coppolella said.
Phillips has a .275 batting average with 334 doubles and 197 home runs in his 15 seasons in the majors. He is only 137 hits shy of 2,000 for his career.
McKirahan, 27, was claimed off waivers by the Braves from the Miami Marlins in 2015. He had Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss last season.
Portuondo signed with the Braves as a free agent last year after eight seasons in the Cuban league with Santiago. He pitched in 17 games for Single-A Carolina and Triple-A Gwinnett.
Syndergaard prepared to start Opening Day: NewYork Mets manager Terry Collins has not officially revealed his opening day starter yet, waiting instead for a spring training announcement.
The worst-kept secret around the Mets is that it will be Noah Syndergaard taking the mound in the top of the first inning at Citi Field when New York opens the season against the Braves.
That doesn’t mean the right-hander considers himself the staff ace.
“I really wouldn’t say I’m the leader of the staff. I think we’re all leaders in our own way and we’re all pulling for one another,” Syndergaard said at the club’s spring training home Sunday, the day before pitchers and catchers report. “It’s like a brotherhood within the team. It’s really something cool to be a part of.”
However, Syndergaard has major factors that play in his favor to be the Mets’ first starting pitcher this year.
For starters, he’s young, strong, reliable and durable.
In a clubhouse that featured a rotation that ranked among the most oft-injured last year, Syndergaard was the Last Pitcher Standing as the long season unfolded.
Righties Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey had problems from the start, with both being injured in the spring and seeing their seasons cut short by surgeries.
Lefty Steven Matz had a nagging bone spur and saw his season end because of a shoulder issue that developed.
Prized right-hander Zack Wheeler had Tommy John surgery in March 2015, made one appearance in a Florida State League game for High A St. Lucie and was shut down.
Syndergaard, whose nickname is Thor, ultimately could have had another moniker: The Healthy One.
“As far as Terry mentioning [the opening day starter nod], that’s just a huge honor to me. I’m here to answer the call,” said Syndergaard, who is recovering from offseason bronchitis and flu.