Atlanta Braves: The Case for Extending Brandon Phillips

The Atlanta Braves are falling out of the wildcard race but they should hold onto their veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips. Not only should Phillips not be traded the Braves should opt to sign the veteran beyond this season.

Brandon Phillips has done well since joining the Atlanta Braves he has hit .280 or better for the season and has played great defensively. Despite being involved in trade rumors the Braves should opt to keep the veteran second baseman and extend him beyond this season.

While the Braves may be falling out of postseason contention they need to at least consider extending Phillips. Extending Phillips would give the Braves the ability to trade their top second base prospect for a much needed starting pitcher.

Phillips would give the Braves a youth presence through a youth movement over the next two years as they head back towards becoming a contending team. Phillips is an Atlanta native and would likely accept any reasonable extension considering his age and the fact that Atlanta is headed toward becoming a contending team.

It could open the Braves up as well to trading another veteran player off the roster moving Nick Markakis or Matt Kemp possibly in favor of a younger outfielder without losing veteran leadership.

Phillips has often been a lightening rod in the past in the middle of any controversy that had to do with the Reds. From the outside looking in many Braves fans were not excited about the prospect of adding Phillips. Since joining the Braves not only has Phillips proven them wrong but he has done more than enough to deserve at least consideration of being extended past this season.

With the free-agent market as aggressive as it has been in recent years with average players often being overpaid, the Braves will need to extend Brandon Phillips soon it is the right decision to make.