Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings December 27, 2017

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1 Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings December 27, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1957-Powel Crosley, Jr. acknowledges the possibility the Reds may leave Cincinnati Reds sign reliever Hughes to 2-year deal By Daniel Kramer Dec. 26th, 2017 MLB.COM Right-handed reliever Jared Hughes is joining the Reds on a two-year deal, the club announced Tuesday. The deal is worth $2.125 million for both 2018 and '19, with a $3 million option for '20 that comes with a $250,000 buyout, according to SB Nation. Hughes, 32, was non-tendered by the Brewers earlier this month to avoid his salary increase through arbitration. Brewers general manager David Stearns indicated the club was interested in bringing him back free of the arbitration parameters after Hughes posted a 3.02 ERA in 59 2/3 innings last season. Instead, the right-hander will receive the financial cushion of being locked up through at least his first year of free agency in 2019, and he will join his third team in the National League Central. Hughes pitched six seasons for the Pirates, including three postseason runs from , with a 2.82 ERA, before he was released on the final day of Spring Training last season. For his career, Hughes is with a 2.85 ERA over 369 innings in 380 outings, having primarily been a setup man -- which could be the role he'll fill in Cincinnati. Reds relievers last year compiled a 4.65 ERA, the fourth-worst in the Majors, while also pitching 610 innings, the second-most, thanks in large part to instability within their starting rotation. The club has primarily bolstered its bullpen internally, with a cast of many former starters, including closer Raisel Iglesias and setup specialists Michael Lorenzen and Wandy Peralta. Hughes doesn't boast elite velocity or high strikeout numbers, but he has a career 62.3 percent ground-ball rate, which may prove beneficial at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Daniel Kramer is a reporter for MLB.com based in Denver. Follow him on Twitter Reds to 'experiment' with 6:40 p.m. game time 15 home contests to have earlier start, which could benefit families By Mark Sheldon Dec. 25th, 2017 CINCINNATI -- In an effort to attract more families and those with early-morning work schedules, the Reds will be trying something new with their 2018 home schedule. The club has decided to try starting some night games at 6:40 p.m. ET, rather than the usual 7:10 p.m. it has done for several years. "The 6:40 time, I think, is just better for families," Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini said. "You get it started a little earlier, and you get it to end a little earlier. Certainly, the times of year we're doing it, we think it will have a positive impact." Castellini noted the times were "an experiment." A total of 15 of the team's 81 home games will have the 6:40 start -- most of them in April and September while schools are in session. Teams around Major League Baseball -- including the D-backs and the Rockies -- have used either 6:10 or 6:40 p.m. first pitches for the past few seasons.

2 "It's a challenge with TV. TV tends to like it closer to primetime," Castellini said. "We've done it in the past, but we intentionally did more of them this year to see what kind of effect it has." One plus is that fans who work near Great American Ball Park can remain downtown and either go straight to the game from the office or stop at one of the many restaurants or watering holes that have sprouted in the stadium's vicinity. For the families that attend, kids have better chances of seeing the game's end instead of having their parents make them leave in the seventh inning because it's a school night. Castellini acknowledged there could be drawbacks for some other fans, including those who travel from longer distances outside of Cincinnati. The Reds' market covers several states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. "If you work downtown, you have to leave and get to the 'burbs to get your family and come back," Castellini said. "It's not guaranteed that it's going to be better for everybody. That's why we're doing it at select times and places. "We know not everybody is going to love it. We think there should be a positive benefit, and we'll seek that input from fans, for sure." Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from Follow him on and Facebook and listen to his podcast. Bonding with family brightens Gennett's holiday By Mark Sheldon Dec. 22nd, 2017 CINCINNATI -- Scooter Gennett had the type of 2017 season that many kids might wish to have granted from Santa Claus. The Reds second baseman not only got to play for the team he grew up cheering for as a native of greater Cincinnati, he had a breakout year, too. Gennett, 27, hit 27 home runs and collected 97 RBIs for Cincinnati after being claimed off waivers from the Brewers on March 28. His season featured a four-home run game on June 6 vs. the Cardinals, and he even got to pitch an inning. He also slugged four grand slams, joining Lou Gehrig as the only two players in history with a four-homer game and four grand slams in any season. To cap off his storied year, Gennett joined an annual MLB.com tradition of answering questions about the holiday season. MLB.com: You spent your early childhood in the Cincinnati area. What was it like having the holidays here? Gennett: A glove, a bat or anything baseball was always awesome on Christmas. There was always some type of Reds-related gift. Even when we moved down to Florida, I always got something Reds-related because that's what it was all about for me. MLB.com: You grew up in Lebanon, Ohio, an idyllic small town near Cincinnati. Gennett: It is a smaller-type town. But Reds country extends farther than Ohio, where people within a four-hour radius are impacted by the Reds. Lebanon is only 30 minutes away, but it was like we lived in Cincinnati. I just went back to Lebanon and talked to some high school kids. It's just awesome how everything works in a full circle sometimes. I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to go back to where I grew up, talk to kids and share some wisdom or experiences of my own to help benefit them. It's just great to be in that position. MLB.com: What is your favorite thing about the holiday season now? Gennett: I think it's great because it's the time of year when family comes together. The main focus isn't what I'm buying for somebody or what they are buying for me, but it's, 'How do I make someone else's day?' Or it's, 'How to make someone's Christmas or Thanksgiving?' That's what it's all about. It's being around the people you care about and who care about you. MLB.com: Do you have any special holiday plans this year? Gennett: We're going to hang out in Sarasota, Fla. We went on the Reds cruise [in November], and that was a good experience. For the most part now, we'll just hang out in the house. I'm already in full swing with working out, hitting, throwing and stuff like that. We're just going to enjoy the rest of the offseason. Then it's a solid eight months of being on the go.

3 MLB.com: Do you have a favorite holiday movie? Gennett: "Christmas Vacation" is the best. Cousin Eddie and the whole movie relates kind of to my Mom's side of the family and cracking jokes. My Dad's side of the family is the quiet side and serious. That movie perfectly shows my family, in a way. But the characters are different and act in different ways. I don't have a cousin that rolls in with an RV and empties it out in the front ditch. That's my movie. MLB.com: How about a favorite holiday song? Gennett: I like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Kids all love it. If you don't love that song, then there's a problem. MLB.com: Finally, do you have a holiday wish for Reds fans? Gennett: Yes. When we're winning next year, that for all of them to show up and pack it in every night. Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from Follow him on and Facebook and listen to his podcast. Hamilton honing switch-hitting skills for 2018 By Mark Sheldon Dec. 22nd, 2017 CINCINNATI -- Two years away from being a free agent and the leadoff man for a Reds team trying to turn the corner, center fielder Billy Hamilton enters a pivotal season in Hamilton, 27, is eligible for arbitration again, but he is coming off of down year at the plate. He was the subject of trade rumors during the Winter Meetings as well. "This is one of the biggest years of my whole career," Hamilton said. "I've got to get me where I want to be on the baseball field." Hamilton batted.247 with a.299 on-base percentage and 85 runs over 139 games in 2017 as he struggled to get on base consistently. For the fourth straight year, he had more than 56 steals -- a career-high 59 this season -- but another September injury (fractured right thumb) cost him the stolen-base crown. But this offseason is different. Hamilton has been able to focus on baseball activity over rehabilitation, since this September injury isn't as serious as they have been in the past. "I want to get to get a point where I can maintain a good average and on-base percentage," Hamilton said. "If I can be consistent at the plate, I feel like my career will keep getting better." Teammates and manager Bryan Price have often told Hamilton that they will go as far as he goes as a hitter setting the tone. He can create pressure on the bases like no other, and he can set up run-scoring opportunities for hitters like Joey Votto. While these are key seasons for maximizing his earning potential, contractually, Hamilton maintains that his on-field priorities are what drive him to improve. "If I'm doing my job, I'm pretty sure we will probably be winning," Hamilton said. "That's going to help me with the contract, anyway." Once again, Hamilton is dedicating his offseason to improving as a hitter. In past offseasons, he has worked with coach Billy Hatcher in Cincinnati or Triple-A Louisville manager Delino DeShields. This winter, Hamilton planned on being in Dallas to work with Reds assistant hitting coach Tony Jaramillo. "Me and Hatch did a great job of hitting and communicating together, but it was in Cincinnati, and we weren't able to get outside as much as I wanted," Hamilton said. "I feel like being on the field and doing stuff outside makes it even better."

4 Hamilton, a natural right-handed hitter, contemplated giving up switch-hitting in past offseasons. But one area of improvement in 2017 came from the left side of the plate, where he batted.259 with a.322 on-base percentage. However, he took a dip from the right side, batting.219 with a.241 OBP. "I will feel good for a while right-handed, but not good left-handed. Or I will feel good left-handed and not as good right-handed," Hamilton said. "I'm trying to figure out how to get both of them going and feel comfortable on both sides. "I feel like I did a great job left-handed last year. I don't want to stop switch-hitting. I want to continue to do my best at it to get better. I know it's been tough for me to get both of them right at the same time. It's my goal this offseason to get both of them right." Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from Follow him on and Facebook and listen to his podcast. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER The Reds sign reliever Jared Hughes to a two-year deal Zach Buchanan, zbuchanan@enquirer.com Published 3:21 p.m. ET Dec. 26, 2017 Reds first baseman Joey Votto finished second in National League Most Valuable Player voting behind winner Giancarlo Stanton. The Enquirer/C. Trent Rosecrans In their first move of the offseason, the Cincinnati Reds have signed right-handed reliever Jared Hughes to a two-year deal with a club option for a third year, the team announced Tuesday. The 32-year-old Hughes had been non-tendered by the Milwaukee Brewers last month. Hughes will make $2.125 million in each of the next two seasons, according to a source. His club option for 2020 is valued at $3 million with a buyout of $250,000. There are some performance bonuses included, the source said. Signing Hughes checks perhaps the most significant box on the Reds' shopping list this winter. His addition to the bullpen mix fills the role of been-around-the-block veteran held by Drew Storen last year, and will provide some stability to a unit that lacks track record beyond closer Raisel Iglesias. Hughes is also very familiar to the Reds after playing his entire career in the National League Central. From , Hughes recorded a 2.82 ERA in more than 300 relief innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates released him before Opening Day of this past season. He signed with Milwaukee, where he posted a 3.02 ERA in nearly 60 innings. He also posted career-best strikeout numbers, although he's never relied much on the strikeout in the first place. Hughes primarily is a sinker-baller who has specialized in getting ground balls. He throws a 93 mph sinker almost 75 percent of the time and has a career ground-ball rate of 61.2 percent. Reds fans also might remember Hughes from a dust-up he had with former Reds star second baseman Brandon Phillips. In a September game during the 2012 season, Phillips said he thought he heard Hughes yell a racist remark in his direction, although the two talked things out the next day and resolved their issues. Signing Hughes fills a need for the Reds, but they could still go after another reliever on the open market. Jim Day to back up Marty Brennaman on Reds radio Zach Buchanan, zbuchanan@enquirer.com Published 6:32 p.m. ET Dec. 20, 2017 Updated 6:35 p.m. ET Dec. 20, 2017 After deciding not to renew the contract of broadcaster Jim Kelch last month, the Cincinnati Reds still have yet to identify an eventual successor to radio play-by-play announcer Marty Brennaman. But they've found their back-up for the time being. On Wednesday, the Reds announced that Fox Sports Ohio sideline reporter Jim Day will take over in the radio booth whenever either Brennaman or color commentator Jeff Brantley is unavailable. Day will also contribute to the pre- and postgame radio shows.

5 "Adding Jim Day as our fill-in for radio play-by-play brings familiarity and credibility to the booth, while simplifying the mix of talent for our fans," said Phil Castellini, the Reds' chief operating officer, in a team statement. The 2018 season will be Day's 18th covering the Reds. He began hosting the pre-game show on television and eventually expanded to host the postgame show as well. He's also reported from the stands during games, and has served as a fill-in announcer for the television broadcast the last seven seasons. During the 2017 season, Day filled in on Reds radio broadcasts on 700 WLW for the first time. 'I have always enjoyed working with Jim, and I know our fans on radio will enjoy listening to him as well," Brennaman said in the same team statement. THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY SIGNAL The Santa Clarita Valley Signal Stevenson Ranch native Hunter Greene staying busy through the holidays Ryan Posner Stevenson Ranch native Hunter Greene is home for the holidays. But this year s second overall pick of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Cincinnati Reds isn t taking much time off. He ll be holding the Hunter Greene Baseball Fest in Inglewood on Jan. 7, which is already sold out. The two-way phenom out of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has been living in a high-rise condo in Las Vegas since ending play in the Arizona Instructional League. Instructional was cool because the Reds let me cut loose a bit, Greene said last week in a Twitter message. Not as many restrictions, so I was able to put it all together. The 18-year-old right-hander said he was facing mostly Double-A and Triple-A players while on the mound. I beat the Dodgers pretty good, too, and they had guys facing me who were waiting to get called up in case someone got injured during the playoffs, Greene said. That was closer to when they thought they would face (New York Yankees left-hander) Aroldis Chapman. Greene spent his first professional stint with the Billings Mustangs, the Reds Rookie League affiliate. He made three starts, striking out six in 4 ⅓ innings while also allowing seven runs (six earned). A standout at shortstop in high school as well, Greene also went 7-for-30 with two double, a triple and three RBIs. Greene has company in Las Vegas in former Reds great and Las Vegas native Pete Rose, who s his neighbor. He has two trainers out in Las Vegas, and works out two-to-three hours a day at UNLV, mixing in some time in the pool as well. When not working out, Greene has also been starting to write several children s books with the help of his agency, Creative Artists Agency. He s also been enjoying the luxuries that came with his $7.23 million signing bonus. That included the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz E400 convertible, which he bought from Mercedes-Benz of Valencia. They really hooked me up, Greene said. It s a lot of fun to drive. After celebrating Christmas in Stevenson Ranch, he ll be heading back to Las Vegas to continue training until March. Greene said he ll be advancing to Class-A Dayton this season, though isn t expected to report until the weather warms up in Southwest Ohio. He ll work at the Reds complex in Goodyear, Ariz., until then. Greene helped usher in a new wave of players considered as two-way contributors.

6 The No. 4 pick in last year s draft, Brendan McKay, worked as a pitcher and first baseman at Louisville. He spent time at both spots in his first season in the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system. Greene s also represented by the same agency as Shohei Ohtani, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month and is slated to contribute on the mound and at the plate as well Transactions 12/26/17 Minnesota Twins signed free agent LHP Zach Duke. Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Jared Hughes. New York Yankees signed free agent LHP CC Sabathia. 12/23/17 Cleveland Indians signed free agent 1B Yonder Alonso. 12/22/17 Baltimore Orioles signed free agent LHP Jayson Aquino to a minor league contract. Baltimore Orioles signed free agent RHP Tim Melville to a minor league contract. Los Angeles Dodgers claimed LHP Henry Owens off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona Diamondbacks signed free agent RHP Yoshihisa Hirano. Chicago White Sox claimed RHP Jose Ruiz off waivers from San Diego Padres. Washington Nationals signed free agent 1B Matt Adams. Baltimore Orioles signed free agent 1B Aderlin Rodriguez to a minor league contract. Baltimore Orioles signed free agent LHP Andrew Faulkner to a minor league contract. 12/21/17 Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Zeke Spruill to a minor league contract. Texas Rangers signed free agent CF Brett Eibner to a minor league contract. Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Shawn Tolleson to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Texas Rangers signed free agent RHP Paolo Espino to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Washington Nationals signed free agent RHP Brandon Kintzler. Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent RHP Jhoulys Chacin. Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent RHP Yovani Gallardo. Milwaukee Brewers designated RHP Dylan Baker for assignment. Detroit Tigers signed free agent 1B Jason Krizan to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Detroit Tigers signed free agent 2B Ronny Rodriguez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Detroit Tigers signed free agent LHP Will Lamb to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Cleveland Indians signed free agent LF Melvin Upton Jr. to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Cleveland Indians signed free agent RHP Alexi Ogando to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Detroit Tigers signed free agent OF Kenny Wilson to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. 12/20/17 San Diego Padres released LHP Travis Wood. Miami Marlins sent LHP Hunter Cervenka outright to New Orleans Baby Cakes. Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Tom Koehler. Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Juan Nicasio. Andrew Knapp changed number to 15. Atlanta Braves designated RHP Luke Jackson for assignment. Houston Astros traded RF Preston Tucker to Atlanta Braves for Player To Be Named Later. Tampa Bay Rays traded 3B Evan Longoria and cash to San Francisco Giants for SS Christian Arroyo, CF Denard Span, LHP Matt Krook and RHP Stephen Woods. Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent 1B Carlos Santana. Christopher Bostick changed number to 44.