The reputation for trading veterans at the end of their contract to contenders is pretty irrelevant.
Trading Phillips doesn't mean you have to promote Albies. Trading Markakis doesn't mean you have to promote Acuna.
Personally, I think if you can turn Phillips into the next Camargo/Jace then that has some value. If you can trade him into the next Demeritte, maybe that has value. If you can turn him an AJ Minter or a Vizcaino, or whatever, that has value.
He has very little value as an expiring contract on a team that is not in contention.
I'd be perfectly willing to move the vets.