After not being able to move Danny Graves, the Cincinnati Reds took the next step in severing ties with their closer, asking for unconditional release waivers. The move came eight days after Graves was designated for assignment, ending his eight-year career in Cincinnati. The Reds then had 10 days to trade, waive or release him. General manager Dan O'Brien found limited interest in a trade for Graves, due in part to his contract. Graves is making $6.25 million in the final guaranteed year of his three-year, $17.25 million deal. The contract includes escalators that increase the salary if he is traded. "When all was said and done, there was pretty limited interest," O'Brien said, in a phone interview. "In conjunction with that, the salary escalators in his contract make it a more complicated process."