Brandon Phillips Deal: Slim Market for 2nd Basemen Forced Cincinnati Reds' Hand

Clearly, the Cincinnati Reds did have enough money left over for Brandon Phillips after signing Joey Votto to a $225 million contract extension.

As originally reported by ESPN's Jim Bowden, the Reds agreed to terms with Phillips on a six-year extension worth $72.5 million. (Might Bowden have some good sources in the Cincinnati front office as the team's former general manager? You make the call.) 

Between Phillips' new deal and the $75 million contract Ian Kinsler also signed with the Texas Rangers (per the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant) it's a pretty good week to be an All-Star second baseman. Phillips might also want to thank Kinsler for upping the value on his deal, as Bowden tweeted a week ago that the Reds were offering a $65 million contract.

If you're keeping track, by the way, that's almost $300 million the Reds have laid out for two players in the span of a week. As CBSSports.com's C. Trent Rosecrans wrote, this ain't no small-market team anymore.

It's probably worth questioning whether or not signing Phillips to a six-year contract was really a smart move for the Reds. Phillips will turn 31 this year and is coming off a season in which he hit .300/.353/.457 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI. But what can be expected from him by the time he's 37 years old?

At least Kinsler could become a designated hitter with the Rangers toward the end of his contract. But hey, maybe the National League will have a DH by 2017.

The Reds are clearly in win-now mode after trading for Mat Latos and Sean Marshall while signing closer Ryan Madson as a free agent. Keeping Phillips (and Votto, of course) around with developing young players such as Devin Mesoraco and Zack Cozart keeps that playoff contention window open that much longer. Just hope there's still some money remaining to patch up that outfield in years to come.

Besides wanting to keep a core player around, Phillips' fat new contract also speaks to the lack of quality second basemen around the majors. There just aren't that many good ones.

Kinsler is on that list, of course. Robinson Cano and Dustin Pedroia are excellent at that position. Ben Zobrist and Howard Kendrick are perhaps a tier below.

Some might add Dan Uggla, who puts up big power numbers, but doesn't hit for a high average nor field his position very well. Danny Espinosa has had one good rookie season. Maybe Neil Walker? Rickie Weeks? 

Then there's the list of free-agent second basemen over the next two offseasons. Reds GM Walt Jocketty may have put his hand over his mouth to keep the vomit in after seeing this collection. We're talking about players like Ryan Theriot, Adam Kennedy and Kelly Johnson for 2013. Aaron Hill, Ryan Raburn and Omar Infante are among the best available for 2014.

San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean might dig that pool of players, but most other big league executives shouldn't.

Even when Phillips' skills begin to decline—and he arguably still has at least a couple more prime years—he gives the Reds a commodity most other major league teams don't have. So though this new contract may be an overpay, Jocketty couldn't afford to lose him, let alone allow his price to go up in free agency. 

Shortstop speedster prospect Billy Hamilton could eventually take over at second base, but he's probably at least three years away from big league-ready.

That didn't leave Jocketty with many options. So he went with the one that was the most reliable, albeit the most expensive.