In case you were wondering, the following Reds players head into 2010 Spring Training out of options:

RHP Bronson Arroyo, RHP Homer Bailey, IF/OF Wladimir Balentien, RHP Francisco
Cordero, RHP Mike Lincoln and RHP Nick Masset.

This should only really affect Balentien, and possibly Lincoln. But remember, Lincoln is owed $2 million this season and pitched well for most of 2008 before his neck injury limited him to 19 games in 2009.

As a short explainer, players that are out of minor league options and sent down get 10 days to clear waivers. By the end of that period, they must either be traded, sent down outright or released. Most players get three minor league options that begin once they are on the 40-man roster. One option is good for one whole season's worth of multiple call-ups and demotions.

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With less than two weeks before the Reds start Spring Training, outfielder Jonny Gomes seemed far from assured of being signed.

Since last week when it was learned the two sides were talking about a Minor League contract, there has been little movement.

"Nothing recently," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said on Friday night. "We may re-evaluate where we're at with our roster and with the number of people we have going [to Spring Training]."

If the Reds do not end up signing Gomes, they will not try to pursue another outfielder as a Plan B.

"We'll either do something with him or stay with what we have until we get to camp and see how it shakes out," Jocketty said. "There's no real deadline. We're playing it by ear. I don't think there's pressure one way or the other to get it done."

There is still a vacancy in left field that will need filling this spring. Chris Dickerson, Laynce Nix, Wladimir Balentien, Chris Heisey and Todd Frazier are among the candidates.

After having lunch with my wife today at Five Guys Burgers (mmmm....Five Guys), I ventured over to Great American Ball Park where the truck for Spring Training was being packed up. It's one of the subtle signs that baseball season is right around the corner. Truck leaves Friday and pitchers/catchers report on Feb. 18.

I knocked out a story, which can be seen here.

Here are a couple of pictures, courtesy of Michael Anderson from the Reds.

Remember when everyone complained about the lack of Reds hot stove activity from October through mid-January?

Since then -- Aroldis Chapman, Miguel Cairo, Orlando Cabrera have been added. And on Monday, fan non-favorite center fielder Willy Taveras was subtracted. Jonny Gomes could be returning any day with a Minor League deal if the two sides can come together.

What did you think of the latest moves?

Personally, I was not overly wowed with the Cabrera signing but I understand why the Reds felt they had to make it. To them, the lineup wasn't strong enough to wait while Paul Janish developed as a hitter. The front office wanted more of a sure thing.

Cabrera won't be a defensive liability but he won't nearly as sound as Janish, who I think would have come around offensively -- eventually. I also think Janish's defensive ability is so good that he would have saved more runs to make it worth starting him. Is the offense Cabrera might provide worth all the extra money? I would have pocketed it for later in the year when more tweaks might be needed.

You can debate the merits of the signing but you can't debate the motive. The Reds have to feel they have the pieces in place to contend.

As for the trade, I was amazed the Reds found a way to trade Taveras and not have to eat any of his salary. That's a huge plus. Anything Aaron Miles can do is pretty much a bonus at this point. I'm not expecting much but I'm also not expecting him to struggle as bad as he did last year.

When you add up the money --- Taveras' $4 million salary compared to $2.7 million for Miles and the difference that went to pay Cabrera -- the Reds could have done much worse under the circumstances.

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The Reds remain in the running for free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera, and it appears there are only two other suitors -- the Rockies and Nationals -- a Major League source told MLB.com on Thursday night.

I've learned that Cincinnati has definitely made an offer to Cabrera. He is trying to decide between Cincinnati, Colorado and Washington.

Nothing was likely to be done tonight. Stay tuned.

Reds GM Walt Jocketty was on his way to Batesville, Indiana on a Reds caravan bus when he called me back and multiple topics were brought up.

Despite a report of there being a potential fit on Wednesday, the Reds are not in on free agent left fielder Johnny Damon. The Reds were talking to the Scott Boras agency about another player recently and Damon is also epresented by Boras.

"They talked about Damon but it doesn't fit financially," Jocketty said. "I don't see us pursuing it."

How about the possiblity of adding free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera?

"He is more realistic," Jocketty said. "We're still talking to a number of free agents. We've really exceeded where our budget should be. We're still trying to upgrade the club if we can manage it financially."

If the Reds add anyone, it would probably be under a minor league contract.

"We don't have a roster spot right now and it will be tough to find one," Jocketty said. "But it will be tough to get many of the people out there to take a Minor League contract."

Next week, the Reds will have a scout to check out free agent lefty Noah Lowry, who will throw in a public workout. Lowry has not pitched since 2007 because of multiple injuries, including something called thoracic outlet syndrome.

"We'll probably watch him to keep an eye on him," Jocketty said. "We inquired about him in the past. We sent someone to look at Ben Sheets too but knew he wouldn't be in our price range. But we wanted to keep track of him."

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If you haven't, please be sure to check out the story I did today about Bronson Arroyo's unique donation to the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The Reds made me aware of it last week while I was out and I didn't want to overlook it this week.

Because it was out of context from the story, I didn't mention other elements of the phone conversation I had with Arroyo. He has spent his off-season traveling all over the country doing various things. Of course, he's played his guitar in shows but he also just got back from New York, where he shot a cameo scene for an independent movie.

The film is called "Goat." It stars Armand Assante and Vincent Pastore, who is an alum from "The Sopranos." Arroyo, who is friends with the film's writer and is listed as an executive producer, shot the scene in a barbershop with Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis and former Red Eduardo Perez.

"It probably took four or five hours to get everything right," Arroyo said. "It was amazing how much detail goes into making a movie."

Arroyo believed the movie could be out by the end of the year.

"I'm not 100 percent sure it will hit theatres," he said. "They think it will but you never know."

Earlier in the chat, Arroyo was clearly focused on baseball and getting to camp.

"I'm healthy and strong," he said. "I'm ready to go. This is the most I've ever wanted to get Spring Training going my whole career. The more years that go by and the older I get, I appreciate the hard work if takes to stay at this level.

"These days, I enjoy going to the weight room and killing myself and trying to see if I can pitch 200 innings again. It's a constant battle to stay on top of it. This is a game that when you're 35, you are supposed to go downhill. I'm looking to improve."

Arroyo will turn 33 next month. He has pitched at least 200 innings over each of the last five seasons. He won 15 games the past two seasons. 

Here was Arroyo's take on the Aroldis Chapman signing:

"I was totally shocked. I didn't even know the Reds were in the running at all. I assumed a bigger market team like the Red Sox or Blue Jays would get him. The Reds have talked about not being able to spend a whole lot of money. I was surprised but I'm glad. A left-handed arm that throws 94-99 mph, you can't help to think good things will come -- either now or in a couple of years."

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Sorry for the lack of blog action this past week. I was off on a stay-cation for my final break before things get busy and I head to Goodyear.

Speaking of that developing suburb, is anybody out there going to Goodyear to see Spring Training? I've got my place there and even though it won't be scenic Siesta Key/Sarasota, I'm looking forward to the new experience. There will be new ballparks to see, new routines to learn and new highways to navigate. Anything has to be better than getting stuck on I-75 in Florida...right? Well if you do happen to be out there, don't be afraid to say hello if you're at the practice fields or ballpark. I will pretty much be there for the duration.

Although I would rule nothing out, it seems like the Reds are going to camp with what they currently have. How do you feel about that? It wouldn't shock me if someone was signed just before camp, or even during camp. Orlando Cabrera is one of three free agent shortstops left on the market but I don't see it happening. His price will probably fall but not low enough to make him a fit for the Reds.

Did anyone notice the signing of right-handed reliever Jose Arredondo on Friday? A minor league deal, it won't do a thing for the Reds in 2010. But for 2011, it could be a shrewd addition for the bullpen if he is back and healthy. In 2008, he had 1.62 ERA while going 10-2 in 52 games for the Angels. A nice stat was his 55 strikeouts compared to 22 walks in 61 innings.

Arredondo is due to have Tommy John surgery soon and will miss all of next season. It should cap what has been a lousy off-season. After he was 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA, he was not offered a contract by the Angels in December and then was reportedly stabbed in the left arm in the Dominican Republic. The injury wasn't considered serious according to the reports.

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Nick Masset avoided arbitration on Saturday by agreeing to a new two-year contract with the Reds through 2011.

The deal is worth $2.58 million in guaranteed money. The reliever will get $1.035 million in 2010 and $1.545 million in 2011. The are performance-based incentives as well.

Masset went from falling way short of the fifth starter's job in Spring Training to a indispensible right-handed set-up man for the Reds.

"It was important to get him signed," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We were glad to get a two-year deal. It gives him a little security and us some payroll security. He worked hard and deserved it. We're happy to get it done."

Reliever Jared Burton remains the lone Reds player up for arbitration. Numbers are exchanged Tuesday. Based on the previous post last night, odds are strong there will be an agreement before the two sides enter a hearing.

Jocketty also drew a line in the sand. If there isn't a deal before the numbers are exchanged, there will be no willingness to settle before the hearing date.

"We are taking a little tougher approach," Jocketty said. "We're telling agents that we want to get deals done before the numbers are exchanged. Hopefully, it'll be done by Monday. If not, we're going to arbitration. We're not messing around with it. Too many agents want to exchange numbers so they can inflate them. We're not doing it anymore."

Relievers Nick Masset and Jared Burton both filed for arbitration on Friday. It was a formality and both can avoid a hearing if they reach agreements on contracts. Players and teams will exchange figures on Tuesday. Hearings are scheduled any time between Feb. 1-19.

Based on the Reds history, it's a good bet hearings will be avoided with both players. Last year Edwin Encarnacion flew all the way to Arizona for his hearing but signed a two-year contract before it was time to go inside.

Here is the history of the Reds and arbitration through 2009:

2009
2008 Salary               $3.3 million
Weathers                   $4.6 million
Team                          $3.0 million
Settled                       $3.5 million with
1/28/09                       club opt for 2010
                                    $400,000 buyout

2008 Salary               $450,000
Encarnacion             $3.7 million
Team                          $2.55 million
Settled                       2-year deal for
2/17/09                       $7.6 million

2008
Phillips          Settled
Belisle            Settled

2004
Beat Chris Reitsma

2003
Beat Bruce Chen

2001
Beat Danny Graves
Beat Osvaldo Fernandez
Lost to Sean Casey

1999
Beat John Hudek

1994
Lost to Joe Oliver

1993
Lost to Bip Roberts

1992
Beat Greg Swindell
Beat Glenn Braggs

1990
Beat Randy Myers

1989
Lost to Danny Jackson

1988
Beat John Franco

1987
Beat Ted Power

1986
Lost to Dave Van Gorder
Beat Eddie Milner

1984
Lost to Paul Householder
Beat Joe Price

1983
Lost to Joe Price
Lost to Mario Soto
Beat Bruce Berenyi

1982
Lost to Tom Hume
Lost to Mario Soto
Beat Frank Pastore

1981
Beat Dave Collins
Beat Paul Moskau
Beat Mike Vail

1980
Lost to Dave Collins
Lost to Ray Knight