From the Cincinnati Enquirer‘s John Fay comes this update on the Reds’ negotiations toward a contract extension with Brandon Phillips:
The Reds haven’t talked to Phillips’ agents since the winter meetings.
“We decided to table it till January,” [GM Walt] Jocketty said.
Phillips told reporters late last season that he would not be offering the Reds a “homeboy hookup” on a long-term deal, but tweeted a little over a month ago that talks were “moving in the right direction.” He was reportedly made an offer in early December.
The 30-year-old batted .300/.353/.457 with 18 home runs, 38 doubles and 82 RBI in 674 plate appearances this past season for the third-place Reds while playing his usual brand of elite-level defense at second base. If the Cincinnati front office fails to lock him up, Phillips will hit the free agent market next winter.