Some Reds updates heading into ST

Mark Sheldon gives up some contract info on guys signed within the last month:

OF Chris Heisey: one-year, $1.325 million contract. Can earn $30,000 bonus for 400 plate appearances.

SS Cesar Izturis: Minor League contract; gets $800,000 if in Majors. If not on the big league roster on June 1, he can be released if requested or added to roster within 72 hours.

RHP Mike Leake: one-year, $3.06 million contract. Can earn $25,000 bonus for 180 innings pitched.

RHP Logan Ondrusek: two-year, $2.3 million contract. Earns $950,000 in 2013 and $1.35 million in 2014. Base in 2014 increases by each of the following in 2013: $25,000 for 50 games; $25,000 for 55 games; $25,000 for 60 games; $25,000 for 65 games; $25,000 for 70 games; $25,000 for 50 innings pitched; $25,000 for 55 innings; $25,000 for 60 innings; $25,000 for 65 innings. Plus in 2014: $25,000 for 50 games; $25,000 for 55 games; $25,000 for 60 games; $25,000 for 65 games; $25,000 for 70 games; $25,000 for 50 innings pitched; $25,000 for 55 innings; $25,000 for 60 innings; $25,000 for 65 innings.
Plus IN 2013-2014 if traded: $25,000 for 20 games finished; $50,000 for 25gf; $50,000 for 30gf; $100,000 for 40gf.
Plus: $25,000 for All Star; $50,000 for LCS/MVP; $100,000 for WS/MVP; $100,000 for Rolaids ($75,000-2nd; $50,000-3rd). Player will donate $5,000/yr to club charity.

LHP Manny Parra: one-year, $1 million. Can earn additional $50,000 for 45 appearances; $50,000 for 50 relief app; $100,000 for 55 relief app; $100,000 for 60 relief app; $100,000 for 65 relief app.

RHP Alfredo Simon: one-year, $890,000. No bonus or incentive provisions.

Based on the last three seasons, looks like Ondrusek will get a $75K bump…

Wouldn’t be surprised if Parra makes incentives also.

Shin-Soo Choo on leading off playing CF:

“I’m not comfortable there yet,” he said. “At the major league level, I played 99 percent of my games in right field. I’ll try. I’ll work on it this spring training. We’ll see how they’re thinking. If they’re not (happy), somebody else will be playing in center field.

“I’ll try the best I can.”

Choo knows there are doubters.

“A lot of people think I can’t play there,” he said.

I know the conventional wisdom is that this guy won’t be a good CFer…we’ll see, but I think he’ll be fine. Heck, if the Reds could live with Pete Rose at 3B (heck, one season he even played 56 games in CF), we can live with Choo.

Masset has a long way to go:

Nick Masset, who is coming off Sept. 7 shoulder surgery, is a long way from resuming a normal spring training throwing schedule.

Masset has been throwing from 90 feet three days a week.

“It’s going pretty good,” he said.

But there have been some bumps along the way.

“In the beginning, it doesn’t always go as smooth as silk,” he said. “I’ve had some small setbacks.”

The next step for Masset is to get on a program where he throws every day. As far as throwing off the mound? “That’s a long ways away,” he said. “I’m trying to build arm strength, so I can recover correctly and get to throwing every day.”

Anyone want to predict when he might be ready? May sometime maybe?

And a Reds Spring Training Quiz.