With catcher and pitchers due to report to spring training in less than a week, the Cincinnati Reds announced Wednesday that they have reached a one-year agreement with pitcher Mike Leake, thus avoiding arbitration.
The Cincinnati Reds will pay Mike Leake $3.06 million in 2013, which is a compromise for both Leake, who had been asking for $3.5 million, and the Reds, who had offered him $2.65 million. Leake was the Reds fifth starter in 2012 and his role on the team appears to be up in the air for 2013 with all signs pointing to Aroldis Chapman moving into the starting rotation.
The Reds still have three players on the cusp of arbitration: starting pitchers Homer Baily and Mat Latos, and newly acquired outfielder Shin-Soo Chin. Walt Jocketty indicated that there has not been a lot of progress but that “You’re always hopeful that you can get it done before you get to the hearing.”
The clock is ticking down for Mat Latos to reach a deal as his arbitration hearing is now scheduled for Monday. Latos is asking for $4.7 million and the Reds have offered $4.15 million.
The gap for Homer Bailey and Shin-Soo Chin are significant as well with Bailey asking $5.8 million to the Reds offer of $4.75 million and Chin requesting $8 million to the Reds counter of $6.75 million.
Aside from arbitration contemplation, the Cincinnati Reds are also awaiting word from veteran third baseman Scott Rolen on his plans for the future. Though a leader on and off the field for the Reds, Rolen has been burdened by injury and has lost a step or two defensively. Scott Rolen will turn 38 in April, and the Reds expect to hear from him any day on whether he plans to continue playing or retire.
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