Today, the Cincinnati Reds traded Brandon Phillips to the Atlanta Braves for minor league pitchers Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portuondo. The Reds will be paying most of Phillips’ salary for 2017. After Phillips waived his no trade clause, the Commissioner’s office still had to approve the deal due to the large amount of money involved.
McKirahan did not play baseball in 2016 while recovering from surgery. The left-handed Texan projects as a lefty specialist when healthy. Over 96 minor league games he has a 2.20 ERA to go with a 1.10 WHIP.
Portuondo is only entering his second season in North American ball after coming over from Cuba.