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Reds lure slick-fielding shortstop
Sunday, November 19, 2006
General Manager Wayne Krivsky has made his first major move of the off-season on the free-agent market, a move designed to help the pitching staff with improved defense.
It is expected that the Cincinnati Reds today will announce signing of light-hitting, slick-fielding free-agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a three-year $14 million contract.
Extras
Both parties have agreed to the deal but it won't become official until Gonzalez passes a physical examination today.
Gonzalez, 29, hit .255 with a .299 on-base average for the Boston Red Sox last season after playing eight years for the Florida Marlins, where he helped win the 2003 World Series.
In 111 games for the Red Sox last season, he had a .985 fielding average and owns spectacular range and a strong arm.
His career batting average is .246 and his career fielding average is .970.
The signing vastly improves a defense that put together a .979 fielding average and made 128 errors, the second worst defense statistically in the National League.
