HAL MCCOY: Trade of Phillips opportune for both Reds, Braves
Peraza, 22, will take over for Phillips at second. Price said the job is Peraza’s unless he plays poorly or someone like Dilson Herrera — acquired from the Mets in the Jay Bruce trade — takes it away from him.
“From Peraza’s body of work, he is a regular. He’d have to play his way off the position,” Price said. “It’s an opportunity for Herrera to play in front of coaches.”
Herrera, 22, also will get playing time in the World Baseball Classic as a member of the Colombian team.
Peraza will play shortstop and outfield in spring games just to “keep him fresh”
“It’s established in my mind that he is a middle infielder,” Price said. “We will learn a lot more about him as a second baseman. It’s the same with Adam Duvall. He is our regular left fielder but he will play some third base and first base.”
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Trading Phillips gives Price the opportunity to do that.
“We’d have had to take starts away from Brandon and Zack (Cozart),” Price said. “It’s not right to take a start a week from established players like that.”
The opportunity and challenge is welcomed by Peraza and Herrera.
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” Peraza said through interpreter Julio Morillo. “I’m here to work. I want to say thanks to Brandon. He taught me a lot about second base. I hope he has a good year. I would like to play shortstop but the opportunity is at second base and I will work hard to help us win more games.”
“I feel good at second base but I played some third base in the minor leagues,” Herrera said. “I will try to do my best to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Left-handed pitcher Andrew McKirahan and righty Carlos Portuando, who were obtained for Phillips, are not in the Reds’ major league camp.
Filling other roles
In addition to second base, the other position battles will be fourth and fifth starters, three or four bullpen positions and the bench.
Anthony DeSclafani, Brandon Finnegan and Tim Adleman are the incumbents in the rotation. Cody Reed, Robert Stephenson and Amir Garrett are the leading candidates for the other two spots.
Starter Homer Bailey won't throw for 4-6 weeks after elbow surgery last week .
Nick Travieso will be brought along slowly with shoulder issues. Vladimir Gutierrez, who signed out of Cuba, is getting acclimated to pitching regularly again.
Rookie Davis, Sal Romano and Jackson Stevens will get a chance to impress coaches this spring to elevate their status.
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