Reds

Jose Arredondo (Reds)

1/31/12 1:29 pm

Jose Arredondo’s new two-year contract extension with the Reds is worth a total of $2 million.

Arredondo signed the deal last week, avoiding arbitration for the next two seasons. The 27-year-old right-hander registered a cool 3.23 ERA and 48/31 K/BB ratio across 53 innings last year for the Reds. With a little better control, he could become a truly dangerous setup man.

Jose Arredondo (Reds)

1/26/12 7:46 pm

The Reds and RHP Jose Arredondo avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year contract.

No word yet on the financial terms of the deal. Arredondo, a first-year arbitration-eligible reliever, posted a 3.23 ERA and 48/31 K/BB ratio in 53 innings last season for the Reds. If he can rein in his control issues a little, the 27-year-old righty could develop into a reliable setup man.

Source: twitter.com

Jeff Francis (Reds)

1/25/12 10:41 pm

Reds signed LHP Jeff Francis to a minor league contract.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported less than 15 minutes ago that the deal was “close,” and now CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman is saying it’s official. Francis will get a shot at cracking the Reds’ starting rotation this spring in major league camp. He posted a disappointing 4.82 ERA and 91/39 K/BB ratio in 183 innings last season for the Rockies, but minor league deals are free of risk. If it doesn’t work out, Cincy can simply cast him aside.

Source: twitter.com

Nick Masset (Reds)

1/25/12 4:12 pm

The Reds and RHP Nick Masset avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year, $5.5 million contract.

The deal buys out Masset’s final two years of arbitration eligibility. He has a 3.07 ERA and 8.5 K/9 in over 240 innings of relief for the Reds and should remain a solid setup man before hitting free agency after 2013.

Source: twitter.com

Wilson Valdez (Reds)

1/25/12 4:05 pm

Reds acquired INF Wilson Valdez from the Phillies for LHP Jeremy Horst.

Valdez will provide insurance at shortstop for Zack Cozart, who underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery last August. The 33-year-old can also provide a backup presence at third base and second. He hit .249/.294/.341 with one home run and 30 RBI in 99 games last season for the Phillies.

Source: twitter.com

Francisco Cordero (Reds)

1/24/12 4:27 pm

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Blue Jays and Francisco Cordero have agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, pending a physical.

The Angels, Orioles and Phillies were also mentioned as possibilities over the past few days, but Cordero will head to Toronto where he’ll set-up for Sergio Santos. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 2.45 ERA and 37 saves as the Reds’ closer last season, but his fastball velocity and strikeout rate were both on the decline. The American League East might not be the best place for his decline phase.

Source: twitter.com

Francisco Cordero (Reds)

1/23/12 7:26 pm

Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Angels, Orioles, Phillies and Blue Jays are pursuing free agent reliever Francisco Cordero.

It’s fair to assume these are the four finalists that were mentioned by Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com earlier in the day Monday. Cordero would have a chance to save games in Baltimore, but would likely have to settle for a set-up role with the other three potential destinations. Look for him to sign by the end of the week.

Source: twitter.com

Francisco Cordero (Reds)

1/23/12 6:25 pm

According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, Francisco Cordero expects to pick a team by the end of this week and the Angels are one of the finalists.

The identities of the other three clubs aren’t known, but Gonzalez was told that one of them is a “championship-contending team” who would like to use him in an eighth-inning role. The Rays aren’t one of them. Cordero, who turns 37 in May, posted a 2.45 ERA and 37 saves with the Reds last season, but also averaged a career-low 5.43 K/9.

Source: mlblogs.com

Willie Harris (Reds)

1/23/12 2:50 pm

Reds signed OF Willie Harris.

No word yet on the terms of the agreement. Harris, 33, batted .246/.351/.317 with two home runs and 23 RBI across 283 plate appearances last season for the Mets while playing all around the diamond defensively. He’ll function as an active utilityman in 2012 for Cincinnati.

Source: twitter.com

Zack Cozart (Reds)

1/21/12 8:40 am

The Reds are looking for an infielder who can back up Zack Cozart at shortstop, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon.

The Reds are ”exploring trade opportunities” and are not expected to pursue the open market or bring back Edgar Renteria. If the Reds sign no one and don’t pull off a trade, Cozart and Paul Janish would enter the season as the team’s shortstops, with Cozart as the favorite to start.

Source: mlb.com