The Cincinnati Reds are two players closer to avoiding any arbitration hearings this February as Chris Heisey and Alfredo Simon signed one-year contracts on Thursday.
Heisey and Simon join Logan Ondrusek as the three players signed by the Reds this offseason. Ondrusek signed a two-year, $2.35 contract earlier this month. Heisey will receive $1.3 million over the (an $830,00 raise) while the financial terms of Simon's contract are still unknown.
Heisey set a career high in starts last season with 80 and also saw more time at the plate because of the increased playing time. He set career highs in at bats (347) and hits (92), but was short of his stellar role off the bench in 2011 when he hit 18 homers and drove in 50.
Simon just made the opening day roster last year as he was signed days before after being placed on waivers by Baltimore. In 36 games he had a 2.66 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 61 innings with a 3-2 record.
The Reds are still far away from keeping a streak of the team avoiding arbitration since 2004. Pitchers Mike Leake, Homer Bailey and Mat Latos are all still un-signed as is the newest member of the Reds outfield, Shin-Soo Choo.
Here are the numbers exchanged for all four players and the Reds counter offer:
Latos-$4.7 million Reds-$4.15 million
Leake- $3.5 million Reds-$2.65 million
Bailey- $5.8 million Reds-$4.75 million
Choo- $8 million Reds-$6.75 million
Arbitration hearings will be held from Feb. 4 and continue until Feb. 20.
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