Reds add Rhodes to strengthen bullpen

Published 11:15 pm Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Cincinnati Reds strengthened their bullpen Friday by agreeing to a $4 million, two-year contract with free-agent left-hander Arthur Rhodes.

Cincinnati also decided against offering 2009 contracts to reliever Gary Majewski, right-hander Matt Belisle and outfielder Norris Hopper, making all of them free agents. The Reds have just two outfielders on their 40-man roster with Hopper gone.

The 39-year-old Rhodes, a 16-year veteran, went 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA and two saves and 61 relief appearances last season for Seattle and Florida.

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Rhodes has a 79-61 record, 4.23 ERA with 32 saves and 714 appearances in his major league career.

Belisle, who set career highs with 30 starts and 177 2-3 innings in 2007, went 1-4 with a 7.28 ERA in six starts this year. Majewski was 1-0 with a 6.53 ERA in 37 games.