Reds sign Jones, Ward

Published 2:00 am Friday, February 6, 2009

Outfielder Jacque Jones and first baseman-outfielder Daryle Ward agreed Thursday to minor league contracts with the Cincinnati Reds.

Jones hit a combined .147 last season with one homer and seven RBIs in 116 at-bats. He began the season with Detroit, which cut him on May 5, and then signed two weeks later with Florida. The Marlins cut Jones on June 12.

He has 20 career leadoff homers and twice hit 27 home runs in a season. Jones has a .277 career average over 10 seasons.

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Ward hit .216 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 102 at-bats last season with the Chicago Cubs, including a .145 average (8-for-55) with two homers and nine RBIs as a pinch hitter. Ward has 11 career pinch-hit home runs and an overall .263 batting average over 11 seasons.

Both are 33 and bat left-handed.