Atlanta Braves: Trade Veteran Brandon Phillips to the Angels

The Atlanta Braves have dealt their third baseman Brandon Phillips to the Angels. The Braves got a no-name player (Tony Sanchez) in return in a deal that basically gives Phillips a chance of postseason play.

Atlanta Braves fans have to be proud of the way that Phillips played for their team while he was in a Braves uniform. The veteran made a bad team very watchable anytime he was on the field because of the unnecessarily flashy defensive plays or the consistent production at the plate.

Phillips was a solid contributor that the Braves should consider bringing back next season in free agency if Rio Ruiz doesn’t look improved in the final month of the season. Ruiz has been called up to join the Braves big league roster and will likely take over for Phillips at third.

Phillips will be joining another former Braves player on the Angels as they acquired Justin Upton as well from the Tigers allowing them a better shot at postseason and making their lineup one of the best in the American League.

For the Braves it is yet another season that they will look to move on from veteran players and hope to see promise from their young prospects. Watching how aggressive the Braves are this off-season should be interesting considering that their target date to compete for postseason play is next season.

Next: Braves Off-season Targets

With a strong free-agent and trade market how much will the Braves add to a young core that is starting to look as advertised.