ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels acquired infielder Brandon Phillips from the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night, swinging their second trade of the day to add veteran hitters for their playoff push.
The Angels also acquired four-time All-Star outfielder Justin Upton from Detroit. With a new second baseman and a new left fielder, Los Angeles has addressed its two most problematic positions heading into the final month of the season.
The Braves also sent cash considerations to the Angels, and they received minor league catcher Tony Sanchez from Los Angeles. Cincinnati already is paying $13 million of Phillips' $14 million salary for this season, making the deal very low-risk for the Angels.
The Angels (69-65) are 1 1/2 games out of a playoff spot despite several major injuries to their pitching staff and one of the American League's least prolific lineups. Los Angeles trails Minnesota (70-63) in the race for the league's second wild-card spot, and the Yankees (71-62) are just 2 1/2 games ahead.
The 36-year-old Phillips was in his first season with Atlanta. The Braves had acquired him in the offseason after 11 productive years in Cincinnati. He was solid for the Braves, batting .291 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs.
Phillips was a late scratch from the Braves' lineup before their game against the Cubs on Thursday, and the Georgia native spent most of the night speaking to family members by phone while he considered whether to accept the trade.
"I let my family make the decision for me," Phillips said. "It was really tough to leave the team that I grew up watching. This decision was much harder than leaving the Reds, honestly, just being around the family and stuff like that."
Although he has played third base in August, Phillips is likely to play largely at second base for the Angels, who are struggling at the position. The three-time All-Star is a four-time Gold Glove winner joining a solid defensive team.
"The dream is to get a [World Series] ring, and that's what I have a chance of really doing right now," Phillips said. "I hope that I can help the team out."
Just as Upton should address the Angels' years of problems in left field, Phillips is arriving to fill the club's other perennial area of concern.
Danny Espinosa began the season as the Angels' starting second baseman, but the Orange County native hit just .162 before being released in July. Nick Franklin, Kaleb Cowart and utility man Cliff Pennington have all filled in with minimal effectiveness.
The Angels' second basemen have a combined .589 OPS this season. Phillips' OPS is .752, and he has dipped under .700 in only one season since 2004.