The Cincinnati Reds retained a cornerstone of their franchise today by avoiding arbitration with second baseman Brandon Phillips to a 4 year deal worth $27million. Phillips, who this year slugged .288 with 30 long balls, 94 RBI’s and stole 32 bases, joined the Cubs Alfonso Soriano as the only two second basemen in history to hit 30 homers and swipe 30 bases in the same season. With Phillips locked up long term, and a slew of Reds prospects on the way to the bigs, look for things to get a little more excitable around Great American Ballpark in the next few season. (maybe a return to that big red machine eh?)

Just a few things worth noting from the majors ONE DAY before spring training begins…

• After speculation he might return to the Washington Nationals, former Diamondback Livan Hernandez signed on with the Twins to a one year $5 million deal. The 1997 World series MVP will take on a veteran role with the young Twins pitching staff, and help offset the departures of Carlos Silva to the Mariners and Johan Santana to the Mets. Good pick up if you ask me by the Twins, as Hernandez gives them a proven, quality arm who can lead a staff and eat up alot of innings at the same time. While he may not be the power arm many teams covet, what he brings to the table is invaluable.
• Former Twin Doug Mientkiewicz signed with the Pirates to a minor league deal. Mientkiewicz, a lifelong journeyman after his departure from the Twins in 04, could force his way onto the opening day roster as the Pirates backup first baseman to Adam LaRoche
• Tony Armas jr  signed a minor league deal with the Mets and will provide them with depth should any of their starters falter or succumb to injury. The 29 year old righty spent last year with the Pirates.

Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins resigned for 08, agreeing on a one year, $4.3875 million deal. The Rockies successfully avoided arbitration with one of the keys to their infield, as Atkins hit .301, slugging 25 homers and driving in 111 RBI’s for the National League Champions. Along with Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe, the Rockies have one of the most potent offenses in Hitters Friendly Coors Field.

In other news, the Padres agreed to terms with veteran and former Tiger Tony Clark to a one year, $900,000 contract. Clark’s duty will be mainly a bench role and filling in when first baseman Adrian Gonzalez needs a day off. Clark has showed his ability to maintain his power while having limited at bats, crushing 17 long balls last season in just 221 at bats.

And Kevin Youkilis and the Red Sox also avoided arbitration when they agreed to a one year $3 million deal. The move will keep one of the most popular Sox at Fenway for 2008.

Mike Sweeney’s officially done as a Kansas City Royal after 13 seasons at Kauffman stadium, signing a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics sunday. Sweeney’s season was cut short last year after right knee surgery forced him out. Good pick up by the A’s in my opinion. If he’s healthy, Sweeney’ll give the A’s a big bat from the right side that can comfortably DH or fill in at first when necessary.

The Mariners finalized their acquisition of ace lefty Eric Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles, in exchange for top prospect Adam Jones, lefty workhorse George Sherill and minor league hurlers Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mickolio. Bedard, 28, has been the ace of the Orioles staff for a couple of years now, went 13-5 last year for the O’s, while compiling 221 k’s on the way. In 06 Bedard won 15 games, and his arrival gives the Mariners one of the best one two punches in the American league with Felix Hernandez, and the M’s now feel they have all the pieces to knock off the Angels in the AL West.
The Orioles definitely didn’t get cheated on this trade, and with Adam Jones, they’re getting a potential all star within which to build their future outfield around. Jones posted outstanding numbers in Triple A last year (.316, 25HR, 84 RBI’s) and will be a cornerstone for the Orioles. Tillman’s a perennial strike out pitcher, averaging 10 per 9 innings so far in his minor league career, while Sherril, who posted a 2.36 ERA in 73 games in 07, has proven himself to be a solid lefty option out of the bullpen. Bedard currently has two more years left on his current contract, and the Mariners are said to be looking to get an extension done sooner rather than later.

Waking up you will find this to be the most interesting headline of the day:

1. The Red Sox have resigned Bobby Kielty to a one year, non-guaranteed contract. Kielty could earn as much as $800,000 this year. Kielty, a member of the 2007 world champion Sox who hit a key pinch hit 8th inning blast in game 4 which helped seal a Boston sweep, has never really been able to establish himself at the major league level, was signed by the Minnesota Twins as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of Mississippi. I got a chance to see Kielty when he was playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Brewster Whitecaps. Sticking around with the Red Sox gives them currently 5 outfielders. With the seemingly impending trade of Coco Crisp, the Sox outfield looks set to defend it’s second world championship in 4 years. DId anyone say curse? Not any more!
2. Briefly, the Indians have signed former Angels reliever Brandon Donnelly to a minor league deal, although he won’t be activated until fully recovered from Tommy John Surgery which he had in August.

Also worthy of note, the Mets introduced Johan Santana yesterday at Shea stadium, while Nolan Ryan is returning to Texas to be the Rangers new club president.