July 2012 - Cincinnati Reds Wiretap

Joey Votto is signed through the 2013 season and the Reds haven't ruled out inking him to a contract extension before he hits the open market. "I think that's a challenge, but we've got a lot of challenges," Reds CEO Bob Castellini said. "It's certainly something we would want to do." Votto, 28, signed a three-year, $38 million contract that covered the remaining three years of his arbitration eligibility last winter. He is due to make $9.5 million in 2012 and $17 million in 2013, plus he is still due $3.5 million of his $6 million signing bonus.

The Reds have reached agreement on a two-year deal with right-handed reliever Jose Arredondo, their last player left in salary arbitration, according to an ESPN.com report on Thursday.

The Reds have agreed with free agent pitcher Jeff Francis on a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training camp, a baseball source said. Francis will earn a base salary of $1.5M if he makes the Reds' big league roster, the source said. The deal includes performance bonuses based on starts that could increase his total payout to $3.25M. He signed a one-year deal with Kansas City and went 6-16 with a 4.82 ERA in 31 starts last season.

The Reds acquired infielder Wilson Valdez from the Phillies for minor league pitcher Jeremy Horst on Wednesday, another move to add depth to their bench. The Reds also announced that they had signed utility player Willie Harris, a free agent from the Mets.

The Reds have finalized their one-year, $8.5 million contract with reliever Ryan Madson. The deal calls for a $6 million salary this year, of which $2 million is deferred until Nov. 1 and $2 million until Nov. 1, 2013. It includes a $11 million mutual option for 2013 with a $2.5 million buyout.

Ryan Ludwick and the Reds agreed to a $2.5M, one-year contract Monday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Foxsports.com and CBSSports.com were the first to report Cincinnati's agreement with the free-agent outfielder. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday night because the deal was pending a physical and no announcement had been made by the team.

The Reds have signed former Phillies closer Ryan Madson to a one-year deal, according to a source. Madson, 31, was 47-30 with a 3.59 ERA in eight career seasons with the Phillies. He went 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 32 saves in 2011 after taking over for the injured Brad Lidge as closer.

Former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, getting 86.4 percent of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. A player needs at least 75 percent to gain election. A 12-time All-Star and the 1995 NL MVP, Larkin got 62.1 percent of the vote last year, falling 75 votes short as Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were elected. Larkin spent his entire major league career with the Reds from 1986-2004, hitting .295 with 198 home runs, 960 RBIs, 2,340 hits and 379 stolen bases. He won three Gold Gloves and the 1990 World Series.

The Reds remain in talks with closer Francisco Cordero. Cincinnati wants to re-sign Cordero, but agent Bean Stringfellow claims that multiple suitors remain. "We're still talking with [Cincinnati] and a couple of other clubs," Stringfellow said. "We're making progress on a lot of fronts. Multi-year contracts are definitely involved. "The Reds are involved, and are still interested in bringing him back. I am talking with them on a regular basis." Reds general manager Walt Jocketty made it clear that his team wasn't offering a multiyear deal. "We're looking at one year or one year with an option," Jocketty said. "That's all it could be, right now -- one year guaranteed."