--OF/INF Jerry Hairston Jr. has talked with the Mariners and the Royals about a contract, but the Reds remain optimistic about re-signing the free agent and giving him a lot of action in left field.
--SS Alex Gonzalez missed all of last season after fracturing his knee in spring training and played only 110 games in 2007, but he is expected to be ready this spring for the third and final year of his contract. --C Ramon Hernandez is expected to upgrade the team's offensive output from the catching position, but there are those concerned about his defense. His 10 passed balls were third most in the AL last season, and his nine errors tied for second most in the AL.
--LHP Arthur Rhodes, a 39-year-old who recently signed with the Reds as a free agent, caught the club's eye by going 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his 25 games with the Marlins last year. He was dealt to Florida by Seattle during the season.
--C Ryan Hanigan, a mid-season call-up in 2008, is expected to battle newly acquired C Ramon Hernandez for playing time in 2009. Hanigan hit .271 in 85 at-bats, threw out eight of 23 base stealers and caught both of the team's complete games last year.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 -- Home runs hit by CF Willy Taveras last season in 479 at-bats for the Rockies.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We tried to make a trade with the Rockies, but that didn't work out, so when the Rockies didn't tender him a contract, we decided to go after him as a free agent." -- GM Walt Jocketty, on the signing of CF Willy Taveras.
