Reds' 3-time All Star signing contract with Cincinnati, plans to retire

Fans cheer after Cincinnati Reds third baseman Sal Stewart (27) hits a ground rule double in the eighth inning of the MLB Opening Day game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, March 26, 2026. The Reds lost the season opener, 3-0. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds could probably still use Brandon Phillips in their batting lineup.

And hey, he plans to sign a contract with the Reds -- could they convince him to stick around?

Doesn't seem likely, but you never know.

Phillips' plan, though, is not that. He's signing a one-day deal to retire officially as a member of the Reds.

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Phillips is 44 years old now and apparently just hasn't gotten around to the whole official retirement thing.

He last played in MLB in 2018 when he appeared in nine games for the Boston Red Sox.

Including his time with the Reds, Indians, Braves, Angels and Red Sox, Phillips finished his MLB career with 2,029 hits, including 211 home runs, along with 209 stolen bases.

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Phillips was actually a Montreal Expos draft pick in 1999.

He went to Cleveland with Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Lee Stevens in a trade for Bartolo Colon in 2002.

The Reds definitely ripped off Cleveland in a trade for Phillips in April 2006, just sending back a player to be named later who became Jeff Stevens.

Phillips became a Reds legend, and he's now a part of the franchise's Hall of Fame.

He'll sign off for good this weekend.

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