Cincinnati signs Hairston, Patterson

Atlanta renewed the
contract of outfielder
Jeff Francoeur.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

SARASOTA, Fla. — Infielder Jerry Hairston Jr., whose name appeared in the Mitchell Report, agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds Monday.

The report said former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski alleged he sold human growth hormone to Hairston on two or three occasions in 2003 and 2004.

Radomski said he had one check from Hairston.

Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said the team talked to Major League Baseball about Hairston’s situation before offering the contract.

“I can’t get into specifics,” Krivsky said. “It’s a situation we’re comfortable with now, based on what we were told.”

Hairston, who played for current Reds manager Dusty Baker in 2005-06 with the Chicago Cubs, spent the bulk of his 10 seasons with Baltimore. He’s also played for Texas.

Hairston is the son of Jerry Hairston, grandson of Sammy Hairston, brother of Scott Hairston and nephew of Johnny Hairston — all major leaguers.

If added to the 40-man roster, Hairston would get a contract paying him $500,000 in the majors and $62,500 in the minors.

He could earn $100,000 in performance bonuses: 25,000 each for 75 and 85 games, and $50,000 for 95 games.

The Reds also agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Corey Patterson. He played for the Cubs from 2000-2005 and for the Orioles in 2006-2007.

Both players are expected to report to camp today.

Braves renew
Francoeur’s contract

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Atlanta Braves renewed outfielder Jeff Francoeur’s contract for the second year in a row Monday after failing to agree on terms.

With less than three full years in the big leagues, Francoeur is not eligible for arbitration until 2009. Terms of the new deal were not immediately available, but Francoeur likely will make about $450,000 this year.

He was paid $427,500 last season after the Braves renewed his deal in similar fashion; he went on to bat .293 with 19 homers and 105 RBIs.