--With the acquisition of Arthur Rhodes, the Reds have two 39-year-old pitchers in their bullpen.
The left-hander joins David Weathers, a free agent who returned to the Reds when he accepted the team's offer of arbitration. Rhodes signed a two-year $4 million deal after he pitched for the Seattle Mariners (36 games) and the Florida Marlins last year (25 games), combining for a 4-1 record and a 2.04 ERA. After his trade to Florida, he put together a 0.68 ERA.
Used mostly against left-handed batters, Rhodes held lefties to a .157 average last season, while right-handers hit .309.
Rhodes fills a need, a left-hander in the bullpen, as the Reds lost Jeremy Affeldt to the Giants via free agency, and Kent Mercker is headed for retirement. Rhodes joins Bill Bray as a left-hander in the bullpen.
--LHP Bobby Livingston, 3-3 in 10 starts for the Reds in 2007, spent most of 2008 on the disabled list recovering from shoulder labrum surgery. He was 7-6 with a 4.03 ERA in the minors last season and will be given a shot to become the only left-hander in the Reds' 2009 rotation.
--LHP Matt Maloney is expected to compete for the 2009 rotation, which at the moment has no left-handers. Maloney was 11-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 25 starts for Class AAA Louisville last season.
--2B Brandon Phillips, a shortstop when drafted in the second round of the 1999 draft by the Expos, is receptive to moving back to short. However, manager Dusty Baker said he has no plans to switch Phillips from second base, where he won a Gold Glove in 2008.
--3B Edwin Encarnacion led the team last season with 23 errors, and with the team looking for right-handed power for left field (Encarnacion hit 26 home runs), GM Walt Jocketty said there has been minor discussion about moving Encarnacion there. However, it was not a serious discussion at this time.
--OF/INF Jerry Hairston Jr. remains a free agent. The Reds want to re-sign him, but Hairston also is in discussions with the Royals and Mariners, with Seattle considered a more serious contender.
BY THE NUMBERS: .157 -- Batting average for left-handed batters against LHP Arthur Rhodes last season. Right-handers hit .309 against him.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He is a veteran with a lot of success and a guy who is accomplished at getting out left-handed hitters in strategic situations." -- Manager Dusty Baker, on the signing of free agent LHP Arthur Rhodes.
