More big names expected to be on move during winter meetings
There have been various reports that Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon and Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips have been shopped around, but the sheer logistics of finding a partner willing to make a worthwhile deal for either means a trade is unlikely. After all, Papelbon, who turned 33 last month, saw a precipitous decline in his strikeout rate (from a career 10.8 K/9 to an 8.3 K/9 last season) and is owed $26 million the next two seasons with a vesting option for a third year at $13 million if he finishes 100 games the next two years or 55 in '15. Phillips, who'll turn 33 in June, is owed $50 million over the next four seasons and just had the worst OPS (.706) of his eight seasons in Cincinnati.