Masset, Reds OK 2-year contract

Published 12:19 am Sunday, January 17, 2010

CINCINNATI — Right-handed reliever Nick Masset and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a two-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

Masset went 5-1 with a 2.37 ERA in a team-high 74 appearances last season. In two seasons with Cincinnati, the 27-year-old pitcher is 6-1 with a 2.32 ERA.

Masset gets $1,035,000 this season and $1,545,000 next year. He can earn another $300,000 in performance bonuses based on appearances and games finished. Also, his 2011 salary could increase by as much as $780,000 if he reaches certain levels for appearances and games finished this year.

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Masset’s deal leaves right-hander Jared Burton as the only Reds player in arbitration. Players and teams will exchange proposed salaries on Tuesday.