RADIO
Looking for pitching depth at the bottom of their rotation, the Reds have signed veteran left-hander Paul Maholm to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. With two vacant spots up for grabs on the pitching staff, Maholm will be one of several competing for a starting slot.
Maholm pitched in Pittsburgh in his first seven seasons, before becoming a journeyman of sorts, having pitched for three different teams in the past three years. Most recently, he was a member of the Dodgers, before a torn ACL injury in August limited him to just 70 2/3 innings pitched. His best season came in 2012, when he accumulated a career-high 13 wins across two teams, the Braves and Cubs, ultimately finishing 13-11 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
The crafty southpaw has never been a big strikeout pitcher, but established a firm reputation for consistency nonetheless. In fact, prior to 2014, Maholm had registered eight consecutive seasons of starting 26 or more games, although during his stint in Los Angeles, the 32-year-old was shifted regularly between the bullpen and rotation.
The Reds currently have Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake as the only locks on their staff. Maholm will contend with the likes of Jason Marquis, Tony Cingrani, Anthony DeSclafani, and David Holmberg for those final two openings.
