CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds signed right-hander Andrew Brackman to a one-year deal on Wednesday, uniting him with his hometown team.

Brackman was the New York Yankees’ first-round pick in 2007 even though they knew he needed reconstructive elbow surgery. He had the operation nine days after signing. He went 15-29 in 58 starts and 31 relief appearances in the minors from 2009-11 with a 5.11 ERA.

The Yankees called up the 6-foot-10 Brackman last September and he pitched in three games. They declined his contract option after the season.

The Reds also announced that their pitchers and catchers will report and have their first spring training workout in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 19. The rest of the squad will report and work out on Feb. 24th.

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CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Andrew Brackman finalized a one-year deal on Wednesday, uniting him with his hometown team.

Brackman was the New York Yankees’ first-round pick in 2007 even though they knew he needed reconstructive elbow surgery. He had the operation nine days after signing. He went 15-29 in 58 starts and 31 relief appearances in the minors from 2009-11 with a 5.11 ERA.

The Yankees called up the six-foot-10 Brackman last September and he pitched in three games. They declined his contract option after the season.

Brackman would be paid US$500,000 by the Reds if he’s in the major leagues and $480,000 if he’s in the minors.

The Reds also announced that their pitchers and catchers will report and have their first spring training workout in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 19. The rest of the squad will report and work out on Feb. 24.

CINCINNATI (AP)—The Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Andrew Brackman
finalized a one-year deal on Wednesday, uniting him with his hometown team.

Brackman was the New York Yankees’ first-round pick in 2007 even though they
knew he needed reconstructive elbow surgery. He had the operation nine days
after signing. He went 15-29 in 58 starts and 31 relief appearances in the
minors from 2009-11 with a 5.11 ERA.

The Yankees called up the 6-foot-10 Brackman last September and he pitched
in three games. They declined his contract option after the season.

Brackman would be paid $500,000 by the Reds if he’s in the major leagues and
$480,000 if he’s in the minors.

The Reds also announced that their pitchers and catchers will report and
have their first spring training workout in Goodyear, Ariz., on Feb. 19. The
rest of the squad will report and work out on Feb. 24.

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to trade reliever Sean Marshall to the Cincinnati Reds for lefthander Travis Wood and two minor leaguers. The left-handed Marshall has been a workhouse for the Cubs the past two season, making 158 appearances. The 29-year-old Marshall was 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 78 appearances last season. He has a career 32-40 record in six seasons with Chicago. Wood, 24, was considered one of Cincinnati’s top prospects but regressed in his second season with the team. He was 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 22 appearances – 18 starts – last season. Wood was 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 17 starts as a rookie in 2010.

Reliever Sean Marshall has been in the big leagues for six seasons and they’ve all been with the Chicago Cubs. It’s looking right now like he’s going to get a taste of a new hometown soon.

ESPN Chicago reports that the Virginia native is close to being shipped to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for soon-to-be 25-year-old lefty pitcher Travis Wood.

Wood went 6-6 with an ERA of 4.84 in 18 starts last season with the Reds, his second in the bigs. Last year, ESPN notes, he won his first game in the majors against the Cubs.

The 29-year-old Marshall is “one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball,” ESPN reports. He had 34 holds, good for a second-place tie for best in the majors by a lefty. In 2010, he had 22 holds.

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Related: Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds

Paul Maholm may not be the only left-handed starting pitcher that the Chicago Cubs are pursuing this offseason.

The Cubs are reportedly discussing a trade with their National League (NL) Central rival, the Cincinnati Reds. Reports indicate that the Cubs would receive 24-year-old starting pitcher Travis Wood. The Reds would receive 29-year-old setup specialist Sean Marshall. The Cubs might also get prospects.

Assuming these reports are true, it’s beginning to look like Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer want every left-handed player in MLB other than Prince Fielder on the Cubs’ roster in 2012. Seriously though, they’re placing a strong emphasis on adding left-handed hitters into their lineup and at least one left-handed pitcher into their starting rotation.

Marshall has been one of MLB’s best left-handed setup specialists for the past two seasons. Marshall finished the 2011 season with a 2.26 ERA in 78 appearances. Marshall was praised by some fans as an All-Star candidate as he had a 0.95 ERA after 28.1 innings pitched. A midseason slump prevented him from being selected.

The Reds acquired starting pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres. They’re currently looking to bolster their bullpen with a quality left-handed reliever. Marshall would be the perfect candidate because of his familiarity with the NL Central. Wood has become expendable because of Latos.

The Reds selected Wood with a second-round pick in 2005. He had a solid MLB debut in 2010 that included a 5-4 record, 3.51 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 17 starts. Wood debuted against the Cubs on July 1, 2010. He earned a no-decision after he surrendered two hits and two earned runs in seven innings. Wood took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in just his third start.

2011 wasn’t as kind to Wood. He finished with a 6-6 record, 4.84 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Wood was demoted to Triple-A for approximately two months for underperformance. He was also the subject of trade talks before the July trading deadline.

Was 2010 a fluke? According to RedLegs Baseball, Wood was the No. 4 prospect in the Reds’ farm system heading into 2010. Epstein is also rumored to be intrigued in him.

Wood appears to be extremely dependent on flyballs. That always worries me with pitchers at Wrigley Field. I prefer strikeout pitchers and groundball pitchers. A flyball pitcher is always at risk when the wind is blowing out.

You might be wondering, “Why doesn’t Marshall just move back into the starting rotation?” I’d actually rather see that happen before a straight swap for these two players. I think the Cubs should just keep Marshall if they can’t get more for him.

I’m guessing that Kerry Wood would become the full-time setup specialist. Jeff Samardzija would probably be the secondary guy. The Cubs might attempt to develop Andrew Cashner into a closer if Carlos Marmol doesn’t fix his control issues.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months.

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