June 2012 - Cincinnati Reds Wiretap

The Reds have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with Sean Marshall. The left-handed reliever could become the team's closer down the road. Cincinnati traded three players to the Cubs to acquire Marshall back in December. He will set the table for the newly-acquired Ryan Madson this season.

Joey Votto discussed the possibility of signing a long-term contract extension with the Reds on Friday, for what he hopes is the final time. "I'm going to make pretty simple for just about everybody. You guys are going to get the same answer. I'm going to leave all that to Reds front office, my agent and myself, keep it as private as possible," Votto said. "I don't think it's fair to the fans. It's certainly not fair to the team to let this stuff creep into the season and become a distraction. "I plan making some sort of comment if I sign an extension or if I get to the point where I go to free agency." Votto wants to avoid the distraction, particularly while he's under contract. "I'm human and it's a distraction," he said. "As much as people, players want to say, 'no, it's not a distraction.' It's exhausting. It's a lingering issue. The team knows about it. Fans know about it. The bottom line is every player has the right to say yes or no. Clearly, it's my decision. "Once the public gets a handle on it, I can really turn bad. I don't want that. I'm in a lucky spot. I signed a three-year deal last year. I have two years on my deal. I'm in a position where I don't have to comment on contracts."

Brandon Phillips showed up for Spring Training on Wednesday without a contract extension. "I thought it would be over with by now," Phillips said. "It is what it is. The only thing I can do is go out there and play the game, do what's best for the team. I love the moves we made to make the team better. That's what it's all about. We can all go out and get things done. My day will come. I'm not really worried about it. I'm letting my agent and the Reds take care that themselves. "It would have been nice coming to camp knowing things were done." The infielder added that he hasn't heard anything new on talks recently. "I haven't heard anything ...I can't remember," he said. "Before Redsfest. It's been a long time."

Aroldis Chapman is preparing to start for the Reds this season after appearing as a reliever 69 times over the last two seasons. "We are going to stretch him out," manager Dusty Baker said. "We are going to see if there is enough time and he can do it. If there isn't enough time or quality, we can send him back to the bullpen." Chapman was supposed to pitch in the Arizona Fall League as a starter, and then in one of the Puerto Rican winter leagues. But shoulder soreness canceled the plan. "We would have the answers by now," Baker said, "if things went according to plan."

The Reds have improved their depth by signing Ryan Ludwick to a one-year deal and Jeff Francis to a Minor League contract. Ludwick, 33, and the Reds have a mutual option for 2013. The outfielder batted .237 last season in 139 games with the Padres and Pirates. Francis, 31, has struggled since he missed the 2009 season because of shoulder surgery.

The Reds have not spoken to Roy Oswalt recently despite rumors that the pitcher could land in Cincinnati. "It's all rumors," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "I'm sick and tired of it. We've had no serious talks. We've had no contact with the player." It is less than two weeks before Spring Training and Oswalt is still looking for a job. It may be the case that the Reds contacted Oswalt's agent and delivered a low-ball offer of about $7 million.

The Reds haven't been in contact with Roy Oswalt in nearly a week and Walt Jocketty admits that a deal would require work. Cincinnati would have to juggle their budget to sign the right-hander. "We had discussions with them a while ago," Jocketty said. "The last we heard he was going to Texas. That was on Monday. I don't know if that deal is still in place." Fox Sports reported that Texas may not have the money to sign Oswalt. The same is true of the Cardinals, Oswalt's other reported team of choice. "If he doesn't sign," Jocketty said, "we'd take another look at it."

Roy Oswalt is believed to prefer the Cardinals and Rangers, but those two clubs may not have the cash to sign the pitcher. The right-hander is without a contract just two weeks before Spring Training begins. The Red Sox, Reds and Phillies have entered the race for Oswalt because of the money issues in Texas and St. Louis.