Yanks reject Brandon Phillips offer

The New York Yankees rejected the Cincinnati Reds' trade offer of All-Star second baseman Brandon Phillips for outfielder Brett Gardner, a source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand, confirming multiple reports.

The Yankees do not like Phillips' declining numbers at his current salary, the source said.


With Phillips having a no-trade clause and publicly unhappy with his contract (he is heading into the third year of a six-year, $72.5 million deal), there was a feeling he would want more money on top of the four years and $50 million remaining on the contract.


A second source told ESPNNewYork.com, however, that Phillips did not demand any more money because a deal was never presented to him.


Meanwhile, officials said that the Yankees still have interest in free-agent second baseman Omar Infante but the price -- four years, $40 million -- is too steep in their opinion.


Following the recent additions of outfielders Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury, general manager Brian Cashman told ESPN New York that the Yankees would listen to offers for Gardner.


If the Yankees keep Gardner, he would play left field with Ellsbury in center field. Beltran will play right field while rotating with Alfonso Soriano as a designated hitter.


The Yankees also have Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells, who are destined to be reserve outfielders for New York or on another team.


Gardner, 30, hit .273 with eight home runs, 52 RBIs and 24 steals last season.


The 32-year-old Phillips hit .261 with 18 home runs and a career-best 103 RBIs last season, his eighth with the Reds.

Im shocked they keep going after older players. I have to guess it's because they don't want to give up any more players in their minor league system

Wait, he rejected that deal STRAIGHT UP???? Is this real life? If I was a Yankee fan, I'd be furious. Brandon Phillips has been an elite second baseman for several years now, and should continue to be one, not to mention a great leader who fulfills other intangibles that you don't find in most ballplayers (Like Gardner), for at least the next two years.

... I can't. Brian Cashman, continuing to prove why he's one of the worst GMs in the history of Major League Baseball (And don't throw the World Series argument in my face; when you have THAT much money and THAT much pull to attract pretty much anyone you want, A LOT more is expected out of you).

Oh, wait, he's looking for the next Kei Igawa or Brendan Ryan (The modern day LVP of Major League Baseball. When solid defense is your only good quality, while being a perennial .170 hitter, that's how you earn that label). Cashman continues to prove what a joke he is.