Nationals, Reds reportedly in trade talks for Brandon Phillips

It's no secret the Nationals are pursuing a veteran second baseman this offseason. During last week's winter meetings, they made a run at versatile free agent Ben Zobrist - before he chose the Cubs - and were reportedly involved in trade talks with the Pirates for Neil Walker - before he was dealt to the Mets.

New Nationals manager Dusty Baker has a connection to the latest second baseman rumored to be headed to Washington. FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports the Nats have engaged in trade talks with the Reds for three-time All-Star Brandon Phillips.

Phillips, 34, slashed .294/.328/.395 with 12 homers, 19 doubles, 70 RBIs and 69 runs scored last season. His professional baseball career actually began in the Expos/Nationals organization when Montreal selected him in the second round out of high school in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft. Phillips was dealt to the Indians in 2002 and then to the Reds in 2006, where he played under Baker from 2008-2013.

During his past 10 seasons in Cincinnati, Phillips batted .278/.325/.430, winning four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger Award. In Baker's short time with the Nationals, the veteran skipper has emphasized the desire for adding speed to his new ballclub. Phillips swiped 23 bases in 26 attempts in 2015 and has at least 14 steals in eight of his last 10 seasons with a career-high 32 in 2007.

As a player with 10 years of major league service and five consecutive with the same club, Phillips would have to waive his full no-trade protection to approve a deal for the Nationals. He is owed $27 million over the final two years of his current deal. Rosenthal reports the Reds would likely receive prospects from the Nats if a trade is completed.

The Nationals infield will have a much different look in 2016. Yunel Escobar was traded last Thursday, paving the way for Anthony Rendon to move back to third base, and Ian Desmond has departed via free agency, leaving openings at second base and shortstop.

"I do want to be at shortstop," Danny Espinosa said on Saturday at Winterfest. The 28-year-old is likely to receive his first full-time shot at playing shortstop in his seventh season in the majors. Shortstop is the defensive-minded Espinosa's natural position, but 491 of his 557 big-league starts have come at second base with Desmond playing short during that time.

Rookie Trea Turner also prefers playing shortstop but is more likely to gain seasoning at second base early on in his career. After playing 27 games late last season for the Nationals, it's possible Turner adds some more experience at Triple-A Syracuse to start the upcoming season before making his way back to D.C.

Veteran Kelly Johnson is another free agent option for the Nats at second base, reports Rosenthal. The 33-year-old would bring a much coveted left-handed bat to the Nationals lineup at a far lower cost. He earned $1.5 million in 2015, slashing .265/.314/.435 with 14 homers and 47 RBIs for the Braves and Mets.

The Mets acquired Johnson at July's trade deadline and he damaged the Nationals' playoff chances with homers off Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg during a pivotal three-game series in September. Adding Johnson for depth potentially buys the Nationals some time for Turner's early season maturation.