Yippee! The Reds avoided arbitration with their only remaining arbitration-eligible player when they signed Aaron Harang to a four-year, $36.5 million contract through the 2010 season with a club option for 2011. Here's some stuff from the story on Reds.com:

Coming off his best season, Harang went 16-11 with a 3.76 ERA in 36 games, including 35 starts, in 2006.

Part of a solid 1-2 rotation combo with Bronson Arroyo, the 28-year-old Harang offered the club consistency by pitching 234 1/3 innings and led the National League with 216 strikeouts and six complete games and was also tied for the league lead in victories.

Before Harang, the last Reds pitcher to lead the NL in strikeouts was Jose Rijo in 1993. No Reds pitcher had led the league in complete games since Danny Jackson in 1988.

Let's get something from C. Trent in here too:

The deal, including the fifth-year buyout, is worth $36.5 million, which when Gil Meche is getting five years for $55 million is a bargain. The press conference will be live on WLW and Reds.com

Tune in to the press conference and let me know what they say. I'm in a meeting at 2, and besides, WLW couldn't make it all the way here through this blizzard anyway.

This week on the podcast, Jon and I are pleased to welcome Joe Aiello of the Big League Baseball Report and The View from the Bleachers. Joe is a die-hard Cubs fan, and he has high expectations for the 2007 season.After not seeing any blockbuster moves in the NLC outside of Chicago-land, Joe predicts 95 wins for the baby bears in 2007, 29 more than they enjoyed in 2006. He has a point about the lack of moves, but do Alfonso Soriano and Jason Marquis really equal a 44% increase in wins? I think Marquis alone is a negative percentage.

You’ll have to listen and judge for yourself. Thanks to Joe for agreeing to be on the show.

Episode 44: Cubs Preview with Joe Aiello (14.5 MB, 21:05)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Reds have re-signed injured pitcher Eddie Guardado. From Reds.com:

The club signed injured closer Eddie Guardado to a Minor League contract on Sunday and invited him to big-league camp at Spring Training.
…
Guardado will earn a $500,000 base salary if retained on the Major League roster. The lefty can earn a $1.4 million roster bonus if he's healthy and is the Reds' closer before the All-Star break. An additional $1.2 million bonus can be earned if he finishes 30 games in 2007.

There is also a $3 million club option for 2008 with no buyout clause included. Bonuses Guardado earns in 2007 can be added to the figure of his 2008 base salary, which could increase the total to $7 million.

Typically I'm not a fan of signing injured players (what's the status on the Majewski grievance again?), but I'm not hating bringing Guardado back aboard. He was awesome for the ten minutes the Reds had him before he got injured. I'd love for the Reds to be in a position to pay him $7 million in 2008.

C. Trent has some quotes from General Manager Wayne Krivsky:

“I’m not into the prediction business, but he’ll be ready at some point in the year,” Krivsky said. “Hopefully when he comes back, he’s healthy.”

And hopefully when he's healthy, he's good. We've got enough bad injured pitchers already, thanks.

C. Trent knows it all. Today, he shares some happy news:

Congrats to David and Hyla Ross on the birth of their daughter, Landri Brook Ross, born today. She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

Landri Brook, huh? Woulda gone with “Diana” myself.

C. Trent knows it all. Today, he shares some happy news:

Congrats to David and Hyla Ross on the birth of their daughter, Landri Brook Ross, born today. She was 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

Landri Brook, huh? Woulda gone with “Diana” myself.