Cincinnati Reds general manager continued to fill out his roster needs on Monday with a pair of free agent signings.

After much debate, the team settled on an option to fill the fourth outfielder void by agreeing to a deal with free agent Ryan Ludwick. It’s reported to be one-year deal that includes a mutual option for 2013, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Ludwick gets a $2.5MM guarantee and could earn another $500K in incentives, per Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com

The 33-year old right-handed hitter posted a .237/.310/.363 line with 13 homers for the Padres and Pirates in 2011. His batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage all dropped for the third consecutive season. 

Defensively, he is capable of playing both left and right field.

The team also signed former All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro to a minor-league deal worth $800K with $200K in incentives. He provides depth to the organization at Louisville, along with veteran Corky Miller, and will be third on the organizational depth chart behind Devin Mesoraco and Ryan Hanigan.

Navarro, 28, batted .193/.276/.324 in 202 plate appearances for the Dodgers last year, catching 428 innings.

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Reds’ General Manager Walt Jocketty completed his off-season hat trick in an attempt to revamp the Reds’ pitching staff when he agreed to terms with right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Madson on reportedly a one-year deal worth $8.5 million.

After dealing for starter Mat Latos and landing left-handed setup man Sean Marshall in exchange for Travis Wood, Jocketty secured one of the best closers available in the free agent market this winter.

The team hasn’t announced the deal officially as Madson will need to pass a physical still.  There are indications that could take a few days. Once a formal deal is announced we will also have a better gage on what incentives and bonuses are involved in the contract.

Madson posted a 2.37 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 48.8% ground ball rate in 60 2/3 innings for the Phillies in 2011. The 31-year-old saved 32 games in his first full season as a closer.

He was negotiating with the Phillies earlier this offseason, but after they opted for Jonathan Pabelpon. The Reds waited and the closer market dropped, leaving them a bargain at least for one year.

The Reds' bullpen looks impressive with its latest additions of Madson and Marshall joining left hander Bill Bray and righties Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, Jose Arredondo, and Sam LeCure.

Here’s a look at more stats (from Lance McAlister, 700WLW.com):

2010-2011 combined
10-4, 2.45, 37 SV
117 games
113.2 IN
96 H, 29 BB, 126 K
6 HR
1.10 WHIP
10.0 K/9.........2.3 BB/9

Postseason
4 consecutive postseason appearances
2 World Series appearances
World Series title (2008)
33 postseason games: 2-1 2.31, 2 SV

Madson career
GABP: 8 games, 8 IN, 10 H, 7 ER, 4 HR, 7.88
Most career HR allowed by ballpark: 32 Citizens Bank, 4 GABP, 4 Turner Field
ERA: 1.74 vs Mil (18g), 1.72 vs St L (22g)

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The early talk of the Reds' offseason is whether or not the team should trade 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto.

“We haven’t talked about it. I wish that people would stop writing it,” Jocketty told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. “Why would we trade one of the best players in the game? We’re trying to win.”

ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted this past weeekend that "rival executives getting signals that the Reds won't shop Joey Votto -- but that they are fully prepared to listen to offers."

He added in his column that "it would be excruciating for Reds to trade Votto, an excellent homegrown player who really cares about improving. But as a business decision, it's a no-brainer".

If the Reds were going to make the deal, it would have to pay huge dividends on the other end. FanGraph.com noted four condidtions for Cincinnati to pull the trigger:

1) The team getting Votto needs to believe they can contend in 2012 and/or 2013 (after which Votto will be a premier free agent)

2) the team needs to have an open spot at first base or the ability to make space there (this is a bit tougher than just bumping a number five starter out of the rotation)

3) the team needs to have very good prospects and/or good players signed to team-friendly contracts that they are willing to move and that they can contend without in 2012 and 2013

4) the team needs to have space on their projected 2013 payroll for Votto’s $17 million contract.

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from official press release...

Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty today announced the acquisition of minor league LHP Chris Manno and OF Bill Rhinehart from the Washington Nationals in exchange for OF Jonny Gomes and cash considerations.

1B/OF Yonder Alonso (#23) was recalled from Class AAA Louisville to replace Gomes on the Reds' roster. He will be in uniform for tonight's game against the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park.

Gomes, 30, this season for the Reds hit .211 with 11 HR and 31 RBI in 77 appearances and 59 starts.

Alonso, 24, this season is an International League All-Star at Louisville and hit .296 with 24 doubles, 4 triples, 12 HR, 56 RBI and 6 stolen bases in 91 games. He made 21 appearances for the Bats at first base and 62 appearances in the outfield.

In each of the last 2 years, Alonso played for the World Team in Major League Baseball's prestigious XM All-Star Futures Game and this season was rated by Baseball America as the 73rd-best prospect in all of baseball. He made his Major League debut last season with 22 appearances and 3 starts for the Reds.

Manno, 22, went 1-3 with a 1.04 ERA and 12 saves in 13 opportunities at Class A Hagerstown (43.1ip, 20h, 15bb, 69k, 1hr, .135 opponents' BA). He was selected by the Nationals out of Duke University in the 26th round of last year's June first-year player draft.

Rhinehart, 26, has spent the 2011 season at Class AA Harrisburg, where in 89 appearances he hit .283 with 21 HR and 59 RBI in 89 games. He was selected by Washington in the 11th round of the June 2007 first-year player draft and was a minor league All-Star that season and again in 2008.

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After watching him fail to pass 94 MPH on the radar gun the Reds knew something was up with flamethrower Aroldis Chapman. He was pulled from the game before finishing the eighth inning after a walk and throwing error led to the Padres' game-tying run.

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Chapman was examined by Dr. Tim Kremchek yesterday (Kremchek happened to be in San Diego). “There’s no concern,” Reds' GM Walt Jocketty told the paper. “He has some inflammation, which is not unusual for someone who pitches a lot and throws as hard as he does. They put him on an anti-inflammatory. We’ll give him a day or two off.”

The Reds are likely to be cautious with the lefty and watch how they use him. Wednesday marked his fourth appearance in five days.

“We think he’s capable of pitching a lot,” Jocketty said. “We’ll keep an eye on it.”

With somebody that throws as hard as Chapman the likelihood for injury certainly increases. There's not a cause for concern just yet, but it is something definitely worth watching.

As Chapman displayed in the spring he is still learning to work as a reliever and there are going to be some days where the control is the issue. The Reds are hoping those days get farther and farther in between.

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The Cincinnati Reds will not go to arbitration with any players this offseason. The team secured that when they reach a one-year deal with right-handed starting pitcher Edinson Volquez on Sunday.

Though an official deal has yet to be announced, ESPN Deportes reported Saturday that the two sides agreed on a $1.6 million deal.

"We'll see if they're up for doing more later," Jocketty told MLB.com Sunday from a Reds Caravan stop in Lexington. "We tried to do a multiyear deal. They just wanted to concentrate on the one year now. [Volquez's agent] had a few cases and wanted to get the arbitration thing out of the way."

Volquez, who is under team control through 2013, posted a 4.31 ERA and 65/37 K/BB ratio over 62 2/3 innings last year after returning from Tommy John Surgery.

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The Cincinnati Reds continued to add depth by signing free agent outfielder Fred Lewis on Tuesday as well as making official the signing of Edgar Renteria.

Lewis, 30, is left-hander bat that can be placed at the top of the order and is capable of playing all three outfield positions.

The team desperately needed someone that has proven success in the leadoff role.

During his stint in Toronto last year, Lewis hit .262 with a .332 on-base percentage and 17 steals. Since beginning his career in San Francisco in 2006, the veteran has 199 starts from the leadoff spot - and is batting .271 with a .343 OBP and 38 steals. 

"Fred fits the category of what we were looking for,” Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty said on with Lance McAlister on 700WLW on Monday night, “He’s a left-handed hitting outfielder that can run, play all three outfield positions, leadoff and steal some bases."

The signing now leaves the Reds outfield with Jay Bruce in right field and Drew Stubbs in center with Lewis, Chris Heisey and the recently acquired Lewis battling for time. Don’t be surprised to see Lewis and Gomes work into a platoon situation in left.

It appears the Reds are done at adding free agents with the 40-man roster now at full capacity and most of the team’s needs addressed. However, don’t rule out a trade as the Reds have many young arms at their disposal.

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The Cincinnati Reds quite offseason continued through the holidays, but as General Manager Walt Jocketty returns from the break he could be getting closer to adding some final pieces for the 2011 season via free agency. The team is reportedly in the mix for left-hander outfield Scott Podsednik and infielder Edgar Renteria.

“What we’re looking for is veteran outfielder, preferably a left-handed hitting outfielder and an infielder who can back up at shortstop,” Jocketty told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

After missing out on re-signing Arthur Rhodes, who left for Texas via free agency, the Reds appear to have $3 to $4 million in the budget and that could be enough to lure both veterans to the team.

Podsednik is a left-handed bat who could fit in nicely as the team’s fourth outfielder, spelling both Jonny Gomes and Drew Stubbs in left field and center field respectively. His bat’s addition to the top of the batting order could give the lineup a bit of a boost and he’s not going to kill you defensively.

Renteria would likely serve as a backup shortstop to Paul Janish, who is slated to be the team’s every day starter at the position. He played under Jocketty before in St. Louis and it doesn’t appear the Giants are going to re-sign him.

The free agent market is thin so if the Reds are going to round out the roster and there aren’t too many names that fit their needs still available. Another option could be to trade of their young arms which could happen regardless of the free agent additions.

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The Cincinnati Reds moved to shore up its outfield by trading for veteran Jim Edmonds on Monday. The team sent outfielder Chris Dickerson, who was nearing a return from rehab following a stay on the 60-day DL, to Milwaukee in exchange for the 40-year old outfielder.

Edmonds was batting .286 with 5 HR and 20 RBI in 240 at bats in 73 games.  He also boasts a .350 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage.

Dickerson, 28, has never materialized and apparently did not fit into the Reds’ long-term plans.

To clear a roster spot for Edmonds (Dickerson was not on roster) the team optioned right-handed starter Travis Wood to Triple A Louisville. After just pitching Sunday and with two off days in the next 10 days the Reds will not need a fifth starter until then. Expect Wood to be back in the mix soon.

“He gives us another experienced guy. I think he can really help us over the last six, seven weeks of the season — in a lot of different ways,” general manager Walt Jocketty said to reporters in a press conference Monday afternoon.

“I looked at signing him this winter. I regretted not doing that after he signed with Milwaukee.

“I think Dusty (Baker) will use him some in center field, some in right field. He can give Joey (Votto) a day off at first if we need that. He also gives us another good pinch-hitter.”

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The Reds signed 37-year old relief pitcher Jason Isringhausen to a minor league contract today. A couple days after watching him throw a bullpen session at Great American Ball Park, Isringhausen showed the powers that be enough to offer him a contract to join the Reds Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Riverbats.

Isringhausen will officially sign his contract tomorrow. Its likely that he will work down there for a couple weeks before being added to the major league roster. Once added he will assume a late-inning or set-up relief role with the team. The Reds have been in need of help in the bullpen as it has been a roller-coaster of a year for all but Arthur Rhodes coming on in relief.

Making a career out of being a closer, primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals, Isringhausen could be used in that role from time to time if needed. With his 293 saves, Isringhausen is fourth among active pitchers - one spot ahead of the Reds current closer, Francisco Cordero, who has had a rocky year in the role this season.

Isringhausen hasn't pitched in the majors since June 2009 when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. After blowing out his elbow he had to have Tommy John surgery and is looking to make a comeback with the Reds. He was one of the more dominating closers in the game from 2002-08 when he was working for the Reds current General Manager, Walt Jocketty, with the Cardinals. During that time he notched 217 saves before injuries started taking their toll on him.

Reds manager Dusty Baker has said that he thinks Isringhausen is looking really strong and throwing very well. If that is the case and he can bounce back from surgery he will be a welcome addition to a bullpen that will need help down the stretch.

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