With only three outfielders on their 40-man roster -- Jay Bruce, Chris Dickerson and Norris Hopper -- the Reds needed some reinforcement at the position.
That led them to sign 28-year-old Laynce Nix. He agreed to a minor league contract that is worth $600,000 if he makes the team out of spring training with bonus clauses that could push it to $1.1 million. The Reds also hope to re-sign free agent Jerry Hairston Jr., but he is negotiating with two other teams. GM Walt Jocketty said talks with Hairston "are slow, but now that the winter meetings are over, maybe they'll pick up."
Nix was a top prospect with the Rangers at one time before sustaining a severe shoulder injury when he ran into a wall in 2003.
The Rangers sent him to Milwaukee as part of the Carlos Lee deal in July 2006. The last two years, playing at Class AAA Nashville in the Brewers' system, he hit 48 homers and drove in 140 RBIs while playing all three outfield positions.
