Although the winter meetings are over, the baseball offseason is still heating up.
The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a two-year deal with free agent outfielder Ryan Ludwick, according to sources who spoke to ESPN.com. The deal is pending a physical and includes a mutual player/club option for 2015, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
According to CBS Sports writer Jon Heyman, the deal will be worth $15 million. " Ryan Ludwick gets $15M, 2 yrs. #reds," he wrote on Twitter on Friday.
Last season Ludwick played right field for the Reds and hit .275 with 16 home runs, 80 RBIs, 28 doubles and 97 strikeouts. He spent four seasons with the Cardinals from 2007 to 2010 and has spent time with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In his career, Ludwick has hit for a .263 average with 143 home runs, 530 RBIs, 419 runs, 176 doubles and a .334 on-base percentage and was named an All-Star in 2008. The 34-year-old outfielder has above-average defense and won a silver slugger award in 2008 after hitting .299 with 37 home runs, 40 doubles and three triples.
Ludwick was traded from the Cardinals to the San Diego Padres in 2010 and was traded again in 2011 from the Padres to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In January he signed a one-year contract with the team, but decided to become a free agent following the 2012 season.
Cincinnati could use Ludwick as a leadoff hitter after the disappointing season from shortstop Zack Cozart, who hit just .208 while hitting at the top of the lineup.
The signing of Ludwick likely means the team will not sign free agent Michael Bourn. It was reported that the Reds had interest in the center fielder, but his price range of $10 million per year proved to be too much for the team.
Bourn is one of the most attractive outfielders in the market due to his speed, but he has fallen behind contract-wise after Angel Pagan and B.J. Upton signed large deals with the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves respectively. Pagan signed a four-year, $40 million contract, while Upton signed a five-year, $75-million deal.
Last season, Bourn hit .274 with 26 doubles, nine home runs, 10 triples, 57 RBIs and a team-high 42 stolen bases. He was caught stealing 13 times and had 70 walks and a .348 on-base percentage.
The Reds proved last season they are willing to spend money after giving first baseman Joey Votto a 10-year, $225 million contract extension that will keep him with the team until 2024. Last year the team had a payroll of $87 million on Opening Day and should have slightly higher number in 2013.
Cincinnati will use Ludwick, Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs in the outfield in 2013, while prospect Billy Hamilton will likely start the season in the minors
The Reds went 97-65 last season and won the NL Central division for the second time in two years. The team went up 2-0 on the San Francisco Giants in the National League division series, but lost three straight games to get sent home early from the playoffs.
Cincinnati ranked 13th in the league in slugging percentage, but only ranked 21st in runs with 669 for the season. The team hit .251 on the year with a .315 on-base percentage, ranked 21st in baseball.
