Last week, the Reds signed Orlando Cabrera to be their shortstop for the 2010 season. The Reds officially announced it on Monday, with a press conference and everything.

My initial thoughts on this signing are, to be nice, less than positive. It feels too much like the Willy Taveras signing from last off season. Cabrera is a light-hitting shortstop who was once known for his defense. However, he has slipped in recent years, and will be 35 in 2010. That’s not a good recipe for success.

But really, my primary concern has to be how “manager” Dusty Baker will use him. The man tents his pants for veterans, and Cabrera qualifies. Plus, since he’s the shortstop, he will bat second in the lineup. That’s where the shortstop bats. Clearly. Even when he gets out 69% of the time. It’s the only logical conclusion.

I have had a little time to think about the deal and am not as negative as I was originally. Unlike Taveras, there was a need for a shortstop. As much as I wanted to see what Paul Janish could do, he was the only option the Reds had. That’s dangerous when embarking on a 162 game season.

I do wish that Walt Jocketty had been better able to down-play Baker’s major weaknesses. But when you have as many as Baker, the only real way to get rid of them is to rid yourself of the entire manager. Hopefully, Cabrera will bounce back and prove my misgivings unwarranted.

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Over the years, the faces of the managers–both general, field, and otherwise–for the Cincinnati Reds have changed. But one thing has remained the same: their absolute disgust with the arbitration hearing process.

To that end, the Reds make it a priority to deal with any arbitration-eligible players before a hearing is ever needed. 2010 is no different.

The Reds had two players eligible for the ol’ Arby’s this year: Nick Masset and Jared Burton. Masset’s name sounds familiar, but I don’t actually remember much about him last year. He was a reliever who apparently pitched quite a lot, appearing in 74 games. I guess I know which games I was watching. Anyway, the Reds signed the 27-year-old to a 2-year deal worth about $1 million this year and about $1.5 million next.

As for Jared Burton, him I do remember. And I’ve always been impressed by his relief skills ever since the Reds selected him from Oakland in the 2006 Rule 5 draft. He’s had problems staying healthy, but is usually very effective when he’s not on the DL. To him, the Reds gave a 1-year deal worth $810,000. Hopefully, he’ll stay injury-free in 2010.

Arbitration is one area the Reds excel at. They haven’t gone to a hearing with a player since Chris Reitsma in 2004, whom they beat. They haven’t lost a hearing since 2001 with Sean Casey. That one, they should have seen coming. Who can arbitrate against the Mayor?

All off-season I’ve been hoping the Cincinnati Reds would do nothing before the next season starts. It’s not because I think they have the perfect team that just needs another chance, or because no one else better is available. No, it’s mainly because I’m terrified that they’ll screw things up and sign another Willy Taveras. Imagine my surprise and delight upon their biggest signing.

It’s been very clear since Dan O’Brien was the General Manager–probably even before then, but that’s when I started following the team again, so that’s what counts–that the Reds need to upgrade their farm system and then use those players instead of veterans. They’ve done a bang-up job of drafting players. Probably better than at any point in the team’s decades-long history. It’s the second part of that plan they’ve been struggling with.

Given that fear, I am absolutely thrilled with the Reds signing of Aroldis Chapman. Holy crap, did they do something awesome here.

The top-rated pitching prospect in the world! A lefty-with plus speed and control! And the best part is the future isn’t even mortgaged! Sure it’s a $30 million deal, but it’s spread out over 10 years. The details are complicated, but it does insure that even if Chapman is a bust, the team isn’t hamstrung with an albatross every year.

The Reds bloggers seem to be quite happy about it, too.

Of course, the answer to the real question remains to be seen. Will they actually play him? Dusty Baker is not exactly known for fielding teams filled with rookies. With this being the only signing of note before the 2010 season, when Chapman is ready, Baker may not have a choice.

You might have expected this after my last headline, but it’s really here now:

REDS EXTEND ROLEN THROUGH 2012
The Reds have restructured third baseman Scott Rolen’s contract for 2010 and extended him through the 2012 season, the club announced Saturday. Rolen, 34, will receive $23.625 million over the next three seasons. Originally set to earn $11 million in 2010, he will now make $6 million instead and then receive $6.5 million per season in both 2011 and 2012. Also included is a $5 million signing bonus that is deferred over the length of the contract.

I’ve thought Rolen looked 38 since he was 28, so I’m not sure how spry he’ll be in three seasons, but it’s nice that the Reds have saved up a little money for the coming season.