June 2008 - Cincinnati Reds Wiretap

The Reds on Saturday signed free-agent center fielder Willy Taveras to a two-year contract. Financial terms of the contract weren't immediately known.

The Reds appear to have passed on a potential trade with the White Sox that would have netted them veteran outfielder Jermaine Dye. "Right now, we're thinking more long-term (Dye is 34) and he's on the final year of his contract ($11.5 million in 2009)," Cincinnati general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We have to fill out our outfield and some bench spots, and it may or may not happen right away, but we're working on it."

The Cubs and Rays are the teams in strongest pursuit of free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley, who also is drawing interest from the Reds, Angels, and the Nationals.

Catcher Ramon Hernandez is excited to join the Reds and hopefully play competitive baseball next season. "It's a new start, a new team, a new division," Hernandez said on Saturday. "So I'm very happy and very excited. It's a new start for everything." On Tuesday, Hernandez was acquired from the Orioles for infielder/outfielder Ryan Freel and Minor League infielders Justin Turner and Brandon Waring.

Left-handed relief pitcher Arthur Rhodes will officially become a member of the Reds should he pass a physical on Friday. He agreed in principle to a two-year, $4 million contract to work in the Reds' bullpen.

The Reds have reached preliminary agreement with the Orioles on a trade that will send catcher Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati for outfielder Ryan Freel and two prospects, according to a major-league source. The deal is pending the approval of the commissioner's office because it involves a cash transaction of more than $1 million.

The Reds are denying rumors that they have traded young pitcher Homer Bailey to the White Sox for veteran outfielder Jermaine Dye. "Wrong. It's not even close," Cincinnati general manager Walt Jocketty said. There have been discussions between the two teams about Dye, but nothing is considered active. "We haven't had any discussions with the White Sox since before Thanksgiving," Jocketty said.

The White Sox traded their second veteran in a week on Sunday, according to a report in the Dayton Daily News, sending Jermaine Dye to the Reds in exchange for 22-year-old righthander Homer Bailey. ?The deal is done and will be announced this week,? a major league source told the newspaper.

Reliever Mike Lincoln re-signed with the Reds on Thursday for a two-year contract. Terms weren't immediately available, but the Denver Post reported that the contract was worth $4 million. The multi-year signing capped a long comeback effort for Lincoln, who returned to the Major Leagues in 2008 after he missed nearly four years recovering from two different ulnar collateral ligament surgeries on his right elbow.

Garrett Atkins will now likely remain with the Rockies. General Manager Dan O'Dowd has listened to inquiries over the past month, namely from the Reds and Twins, but hasn't been tempted as next week's winter meetings draw near. "There's no sense of urgency with Garrett. It's a different situation (than Matt Holliday, who was entering his last season before free agency)," O'Dowd said. "We would be comfortable having him back. We just need to make sure he's in the right frame of mind."