Cincinnati Reds: Top 5 all-time trades in franchise history

3.  Brandon Phillips

Brandon Phillips was involved in one of the biggest deals of the 2000’s.  No, not the one that brought him to Cincinnati.  In June of 2002 Phillips along with Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Lee Stevens were dealt from the Montreal Expos to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Bartolo Colon and Tim Drew.

The Stone Mountain, Georgia native was a 2nd round draft pick of the Expos in 1999 and made his Major lLeague debut later in the summer of 2002 with the Tribe.  However, over the course of four seasons in Cleveland, Phillips failed to establish himself as a Major Leaguer.  Appearing in only 135 games and hitting a paltry .206 over that span, his career was at a crossroads.

After failing to win the second base job entering the 2006 season, the Indians were finally ready to move on from Phillips.  On April 7, 2006 Reds General Manager Wayne Krivsky acquired the 25-year-old second baseman for a player to be named later.  Eventually right-handed pitcher Jeff Stevens was sent to Cleveland to complete the deal.

Almost overnight Phillips became the player worthy of a second round draft selection.  In his inaugural season in Cincinnati, Phillips smacked 17 homers, knocked in 75 RBIs, while stealing 25 bases.  However, it was his defense that left fans and opponents alike slack jawed.  He was a magician with the glove and would became a regular on nightly highlight reels for years to come.

Immediately establishing himself as a fan favorite from the outset, Phillips would only get better.  Arguably his finest season occurred during the 2007 campaign.  Phillips would set career highs in both home runs (30) and stolen bases (32), while continuing to play sparkling defense.

Over the course of 11 years in the Queen City, Phillips was an integral part of three playoff teams.  During his Reds career he would accumulate 1,774 hits, 191 homers and swipe 194 bases.  Phillips also collected his share of hardware while in a Cincinnati Reds uniform.  He won 4 Gold Glove Awards, made 3 All-Star teams, and claimed the 2011 Silver Slugger Award.

As for Jeff Stevens, the player to be named later in the trade with the Indians, he managed to win one Major League game over his career as a member of the Cubs in 2009.  There’s no way Wayne Krivsky could have envisioned what Brandon Phillips would become.  However, it was obvious to Reds fans in no time at all that Dat Dude can play.