--C Humberto Cota signed a minor league deal with the Reds, and he could compete to be the team's backup catcher this spring. His last major league action came in 2007, when he played five games for the Pirates. Meanwhile, C Ryan Jorgensen, who had signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in November, announced his retirement.
--SS Alex Gonzalez has been given 100 percent clearance to play in 2009 after missing all of 2008 with a fractured knee. There were doubts as recently as two weeks ago that he would be able to return. --2B Brandon Phillips, the NL Gold Glove winner, will play this year with two pins in his right index finger after he fractured it last Sept. 9 and missed the rest of the season.
--RHP Edinson Volquez, in his first full year as a major league starter, won 17 games and had 20 quality starts in his first year with the Reds. He is the early favorite to be the team's Opening Day starter in 2009.
--RHP Mike Lincoln returns to the Reds bullpen after making 64 appearances in 2008, an amazing feat after missing three full seasons while recovering from two Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgeries.
--RF Jay Bruce joined the club on May 27 and hit 21 homers with 52 RBI and 63 runs, numbers that project to 30 homers, 75 RBI and 91 runs scored.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 -- Home runs hit by rookie LF Chris Dickerson in only 25 starts in 2008.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If we started right now, left field would be a platoon situation with Chris Dickerson and either Jerry Hairston Jr. or Jonny Gomes." -- Manager Dusty Baker on the team's left field situation.
