CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds have agreed to a minor league deal with left-hander Jeff Francis, who pitched in their farm system during the 2012 season.
The 33-year-old starter split time between the rotation and the bullpen for Colorado last season. He made 12 starts and 11 relief appearances, going 3-5 with a 6.27 earned run average.
The Rockies made him a first-round pick — the ninth overall — in the June 2002 amateur draft. He has a career record of 70-78 with a 4.94 ERA. He pitched for Colorado in all but the 2011 season, when he was 6-16 with a 4.82 ERA in 31 starts with Kansas City.
The Reds signed him to a minor league deal for 2012. He spent two months at Triple-A Louisville before rejoining Colorado.
