The Reds have decided not to tender contracts for the 2009 season to 28-year old righty Matt Belisle and 28-year old righty Gary Majewski. Belisle started 6 games for the Reds last season and he was 1-4 with a 7.28 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. He finished his career with the Reds having pitched in 132 games (43 starts) in which he was 16-22 with 1 save, a 5.06 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Majewski pitched in 37 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 1-0 with a 6.53 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP. He has now pitched in 229 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 9-13 with 2 saves, a 4.61 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Majewski was quickly signed by the Phillies but the Reds won’t likely miss either of these guys who both pitched poorly for them in 2008.

The Reds have signed 39-year old lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes to a 2-year, $4 million dollar contract. He pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Marlins and Mariners last season in which he was 4-1 with 2 saves, a 2.04 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. In his career, Rhodes has pitched in 714 games (61 starts) and he is 79-61 with 32 saves, a 4.23 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. It will be interesting to see how much gas Rhodes has left in his tank, but this was a good risk for the Reds.

The Cincinnati Reds have acquired 32-year old righty swinging catcher Ramon Hernandez from the Orioles for Ryan Freel and infielders Justin Turner and Brandon Waring. Hernandez played in 133 games for the Orioles last year and he was 119 for 463 (.257 avg, .714 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 15 homers and 65 RBIs. He has now played in 1,188 games in his major league career and he is 1,044 for 3,975 (.263 avg, .747 OPS) with 477 runs scored, 137 homers and 602 RBIs. Hernandez is a good catcher so he should help the Reds’ pitching staff. Reds’ fans might miss Ryan Freel a bit as he always hustled on the baseball field. He played in 48 games for the Reds last season and he was 39 for 131 (.298 avg, .699 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 10 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The 32-year old righty swinging Freel has played in 553 games in his major league career and he is 515 for 1,895 (.272 avg, .733 OPS) with 295 runs scored, 22 homers, 117 RBIs and 142 stolen bases. 24-year old righty swinging Justin Turner was the #29 prospect in the Reds’ system heading into the 2008 season according to Baseball America. He played in 111 games in A + AA ball last season and he was 124 for 416 (.298 avg, .785 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 8 homers, 53 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The 22-year old righty swinging Brandon Waring played in 119 games in A-ball last year and he was 119 for 441 (.270 avg, .813 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 20 homers and 71 RBIs. But, Waring also whiffed a stunning 156 times in 2008! This could turn out being a good trade for both teams.

39-year old righty reliever David Weathers has accepted the Reds’ offer of arbitration. He pitched in 72 games (0 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 4-6 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Weathers has now pitched in 896 games (69 starts) in his major league career and he is 69-82 with 74 saves, a 4.27 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. This was a smart move by Weathers as free agency isn’t look good for most players.

The Reds have re-signed 33-year old righty reliever Mike Lincoln to a 2-year, $4 million dollar contract. Lincoln pitched in 64 games (0 starts) with the Reds last season and he is 2-5 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has now pitched in 225 games (19 starts) in his major league career and he is 15-29 with 5 saves, a 5.02 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. For the money the Reds spent on Lincoln they probably could have got a better pitcher than him.