Welcome to round 2 of the Jason Romano Commemorative NLC’s hottest baller contest. 15 of the best-looking players on NLC (plus the newest Mariner) face off in a single-elimination tournament.

Today’s match is a showdown of a couple of Reds, second-baseman Brandon Phillips and barely-more-than-prospect Joey Votto. An NLC’s Hottest Baller award and a breakout season would do wonders for keeping Votto out of a 5-player trade, but it would also go very nicely with Phillips’ shiny new 4-year, $27 million contract.

Joey Votto
ht: 6-3 wt: 220 dob: 09/10/1983

Brandon Phillips
ht: 6-0 wt: 195 dob: 6/28/1981

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In a continuing effort to make Tom Shearn REALLY earn that rotation spot, the Reds have signed right-hander Josh Fogg to a 1-year contract for $1 million. Press release below.

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds Executive Vice President and General Manager Wayne Krivsky today announced the signing of free agent RHP Josh Fogg to a one-year contract through the 2008 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Fogg, 31, last season for the National League champion Colorado Rockies went 10-9 with a 4.94 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance. During the Rockies’ postseason run he posted a 2-1 record in a relief appearance against the Philadelphia Phillies during the National League Division Series and starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the NL Championship Series and the Boston Red Sox during the World Series.

In 2007, Fogg ranked among Rockies team leaders in wins (2nd), starts (2nd) and innings pitched (165.2, 3rd). Eight of his 10 victories were against playoff teams or teams that were in the playoff hunt going into the season’s final week. In his last seven starts of the regular season he went 3-0 with a 3.82 ERA.

A seven-year Major League veteran, Fogg has posted a 60-60 career record with a 4.90 ERA in 197 appearances, including 179 starts, for the Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and Rockies.

To make room on the 40-man roster, LHP Bobby Livingston (left shoulder surgery, 9/6/07) went on the 60-day disabled list.

Yesterday the Pirates announced the signing of Byung-Hyun Kim to a Major League contract worth $850,000.

Kim will join the Pirates bullpen, grabbing one of the spots for himself thanks to his big-league deal. No announcement on who will be moved to make room for Kim on the roster.

• Charlie at Bucs Dugout is somewhat excited by the signing, citing Kim’s entertaining and unorthodox delivery.
• Matt at the Pittsburgh Lumber Company hopes that Kim will be used as a reliever instead of a starter. And then mentions that Kim is only 29. That’s hard to believe. It seems like forever ago that he was crumbling under the pressure of the World Series. Something like that should have destroyed his baseball career, so perhaps it’s telling that he signed with the Pirates.
• Lastly, Pat at Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke had an initial negative reaction. It’s hard to find any fault with that, considering the moves the Pirates have made over the years. Pat thinks it could be beneficial if Kim is used selectively as a reliever, but finds Kim’s Strikeout to Walk ratio scary.

If used as a reliever and a spot starter, I think this deal could help the Pirates. It’s not the sort of thing that will turn a team around, but Kim is a guy who’s won before. And he’s still young. The Pirates need youth and experience to help improve the team. Right now, they’re only going to be able to sign players with lots of negatives, too.