MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports that the Reds have signed reliever Drew Storen to a one-year major league contract. The deal is worth $3 million with an additional $1.5 million available in incentives, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Storen, 29, started the season with the Blue Jays but struggled to a 6.21 ERA over 33 1/3 innings. The club traded him in late July to the Mariners in exchange for Joaquin Benoit. After joining Seattle, Storen put up an improved 3.44 ERA with a 16/3 K/BB ratio in 18 1/3 innings.
Reds manager Bryan Price had been planning on using a three-headed giant in the closer’s role with Raisel Iglesias, Tony Cingrani, and Michael Lorenzen. Given Storen’s recent inconsistency and injury issues, he’s not likely to jump back into the closer’s role immediately. The most likely scenario figures to be Storen setting up for Iglesias.