Dec 27 2008
Taveras Signs with Reds
Free agent outfielder Willy Taveras has signed a two year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Taveras will take over in center field for the recently traded Ryan Freel.
Freel was shipped to the Baltimore Orioles for catcher Ramon Hernandez.
Taveras has spent time in the Majors with the Houston Astros and most recently with the Colorado Rockies.
Taveras hit .251 in 2008 with the Rockies and led the Majors in steals with 68 and a .907 stolen base percentage.
The Reds envision Taveras as their everyday center fielder and their everyday leadoff hitter.
Taveras is a career .283 hitter with seven homeruns and 109 RBIs. He also has 169 stolen bases and has only been caught 36 times.
He hit .320 in 2007 in his first season with the Rockies.
He has played in 541 career games.
