The Cincinnati Reds now have all but one piece of the puzzle left after avoiding arbitration with outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and pitcher Mat Latos.
With Choo signing on Monday and Latos on Tuesday, only Homer Bailey is left for the Reds to sign before an arbitration hearing. Bailey is asking for over a million more than the Reds offered which has caused for the delay in signing.
Choo was brought over in a trade with Cleveland for last year's center fielder Drew Stubbs. Choo is expected to fill a void at the top of the order, but his time with the team could be short term if minor league prospect Billy Hamilton comes along the way the Reds are hoping.
As for Latos, he had a rough going when he first came over to the Reds from San Diego. In the month of April Latos was 1-2 with a 5.97 ERA. He overcame his control problems and adapted to the hitters park that is Great American Ballpark and finished with a 14-4 record and a 3.48 ERA.
The Reds gave him a two-year $11.5 million deal with $7.25 million of that coming in 2014. He will join pitchers and pitchers and catchers who reported today in Goodyear, Ariz., while Choo will join on Friday with the rest of the team.
Cincinnati also signed former Giants reliever Clay Hensley to a minor league deal on Monday. He has a career 4.00 ERA with 371 strikeouts and 10 saves.
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