In case you’d forgotten, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips will be a free agent after the 2012 season. Phillips has campaigned throughout the off-season for an extension on his twitter account. Today, he spoke briefly to Cincinnati Enquirer beat reporter John Fay, and I mean briefly.

It sounds like the Reds and Brandon Phillips’ agents met to discuss a contract extension Monday.

“I don’t know . . . probably,” Phillips said. “Talk to (Walt) Jocketty.”

I know Phillips isn’t a fan of the proceedings, but I’m happy with how the Reds have been handling the situation. Phillips has tweeted that the Reds won’t get a “homeboy discount.” Given the Reds’ low payroll, devoting elite bucks to Phillips for several years isn’t something the team can do. Phillips is likely past his best years. The Reds have to be smart about how they spend money, and giving Phillips the highest salary of his career when he’s past his likely physical prime is not smart.

I love watching Phillips play, and I hope the team and him can work out something that doesn’t cripple the club. It seems unlikely at this point, so I’ll be sure to enjoy Phillips’ leather and infectious smile this season.

Boxscore

Bronson Arroyo didn’t fare as well in his second start of the Spring for the Cincinnati Reds. Arroyo allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks over 2 innings. He struck out just one batter.

The offense continues to produce runs, as they were up to the task of recovering from Arroyo’s deficit. Todd Frazier homered in the 2nd inning, and Zach Cozart doubled in a couple in the third to bring the team within 1.

The team took the lead in the top of the 7th, only to have Carlos Fisher blow it in the bottom of the 7th by allowing 3 runs.

Sean Marshall turned in a better outing than his previous ones, which is a good sign. Marshall pitched a perfect 4th, striking out 2.

As for Arroyo, I didn’t see any reports on his velocity, so that’s still a concern. Obviously, the overall results weren’t good, but he did manage to strikeout a batter this time. Of all the starters, I think Arroyo is the one who will need to be watched most closely during Spring Training. We don’t want Badrroyo again.

For the parade on Opening Day this year, the Reds have selected former third baseman Aaron Boone to be the Grand Marshall. One can only look forward to the year when Sean Marshal is chosen. Grand Marshal Marshal. It has a certain Catch-22 ring to it.

The Cincinnati Reds and Findlay Market announce that Reds great and ESPN broadcaster Aaron Boone will be the Grand Marshal of the 93rd Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, which kicks off at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 5th.

Aaron will be joining his ESPN Monday Night Baseball partners Sean McDonough and Rick Sutcliffe in covering the Reds Opening Day game for a national TV audience on ESPN2. Boone also serves as a regular correspondent on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight.

In his 12-year Major League career, Aaron Boone hit .263 with 126 HR, 555 RBI and 107 SB in 1,152 games for the Reds, Indians, Nationals, Yankees, Astros and Marlins. Selected by the Reds in the third round of the June 1994 free agent draft, from 1997-2003 Boone hit .271 with 86 HR, 362 RBI and 83 SB in 668 games for Cincinnati. He was an All-Star for the Reds in 2003, when he hit .273 with 18 HR, 65 RBI and 15 SB in 106 games before he was traded to the Yankees.

The Reds will release further details of Opening Week, including festivities planned for the new Spring Showcase, Opening Day and Opening Night, in the coming weeks.