The Reds have severed ties with veteran reliever Mike Stanton, according to a Yahoo.com report. Before Monday?s season opener against Arizona, the Reds bought out the final season of Stanton?s two-year contract. The 40-year-old lefthander was designated for assignment. Stanton?s deal, which will pay him $3M this year, also included a club option for 2009. First-year Reds' Manager Dusty Daker said the news left Stanton ?in shock.?