![betancourt-110111.standard[1]](http://nbchardballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/betancourt-110111-standard1.jpg?w=136&h=121&crop=1)
The Reds have signed outfielder Fred Lewis to a one-year contract, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports that he’ll make a $900,000 base salary, plus incentives.
Lewis was non-tendered by the Blue Jays in December after batting .262/.332/.442 with eight home runs, 36 RBI, 17 stolen bases and a 745 OPS over 480 plate appearances last season. The 30-year-old outfielder has a .272/.348/.418 batting line over parts of five seasons in the big leagues.
Lewis drew a considerable amount of interest this winter as a potential fourth outfielder, but it will be interesting to see how he is utilized by Dusty Baker. Lewis has a 796 OPS against right-handed pitching during his career, so there’s a chance he could find himself in a left field platoon with Jonny Gomes, who traditionally enjoys more success against left-handed pitching.
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- BC - Jan 11, 2011 at 10:30 AM
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He’s a more-than-functional fourth outfielder. Good speed. Not a bad signing.
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- metalhead65 - Jan 11, 2011 at 11:29 AM
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he won’t be with the reds long once walt finds out that in fact he is not a former cardnial and thus disqualified from playing with the reds. why if gomes is so bad they need to sign 2 outfielders to compete with for the right to platoon with him did they resign him to begin with?and what about heisy?I thought he and stubbs did a pretty good job for being first year players last year. but I guess he gets to join janish on the bench and platoon as the reds new batboy!
